WILLIAM HOUGH

William Henry Hough Bill Hough died on September 22, 2010 at San Rafael of leukemia. Mr. Hough was born on July 2, 1940, to Margaret and Samuel Hough in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He excelled in athletics and won an Eagle Scout award when he was 15. He received his BA and MA in economics at the University of California, Berkeley, during the Free Speech Movement. He taught economics at Amadu Bello University in Zaria, Nigeria for three years during the Biafran War. Upon his return to the United States, he started a construction business in Santa Cruz, CA and became a very active advocate for the United States Institute of Peace. In 1986 Mr. Hough moved to Marin County. He organized a two-year series of programs at the College of Marin featuring local, national and international leaders of the peace and environmental movements. He became active in the Democratic Party and was named co-Marin County Democrat of the Year in 1988. In 1990 he served as campaign manager for now Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey in her pre-primary campaign and as an advisor until she elected to Congress in 1992. In 1992, he served as the President of the 12-chapter Northern California Division of the United Nations Association, USA, and he led the Division during the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the drafting and signing of the United Nations Charter. He also was a co-founder of the Presidio-based Resource Center for the United Nations and served as its Executive Director. In 2002, Bill cofounded the Phillip and Sala Burton Center for Human Rights and served as its director until his death. Bill leaves behind wife Yasemin, sons Alden and Benjamin, grandchildren Lauren, Miles and Ella, as well as four siblings, Samuel, Sherna, Brian and Bonnie. A celebration of his life will be held at the Presidio Yacht Club in Sausalito on Saturday, October 16th from 1:00 - 6:00 PM.