(1915-1999)
Jack Howard Douglas, 84, died July 29, 1999, in Salt Lake City, Utah.Born March 25, 1915, in Salt Lake, the only child of Shamgar Hewitt and Alberta Beckstead Douglas. Jack was an Eagle Scout and graduated from East High School. He later attended the University of Utah and was a Sea Scout officer in the late 1930's. In 1936-37 Jack wrote a weekly column for The Salt Lake Tribune-Telegram newspapers while serving as Aviation Editor.
Jack began selling hobby supplies out of his home before model shops existed. On November 15, 1934, he formally opened one of the world's first, Douglas Model Aircraft, in downtown Salt Lake City.
During the early years of World War II he taught aviation ground school at the University of Utah and was a train brakeman for the Union Pacific and Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroads. He later joined the US Marine Corps, serving until the war ended in 1945.
He was married to Emily Erhard from 1939-1943. On September 26, 1944, Jack married Fern Vivian Richardson of West Jordan, Utah, in San Francisco, California.
In 1952 Jack expanded his wholesale operation to Denver, Colorado, and later to Seattle, Washington. He operated a model train (Athearn) assembly plant in Salt Lake from 1955-56.
Jack was a 32nd degree Mason, a member of Progress Lodge #22 F&AM, and a Shriner in El Kalah Temple in Salt Lake.
Jack is survived by his wife, Fern Richardson Douglas (USAAF Women's Army Service Pilot, World War II); son, Jack (and Karlan); daughter, Diane; and, son, Rick, Lt. Colonel, US Air Force (retired); grandson, Scott (and Teresa); and, great-grandson, Connor.
Visitation service at 10 a.m., Tuesday, August 3rd, at Sunset Lawn, 2350 East 1300 South, Salt Lake. Interment at 11 a.m. Honorary pallbearers include Mrs. Douglas' brothers: Mr. W. Earl, D. Calvin, Floyd C., Duane G., and Jay V. Richardson; and, Douglas Model's Salt Lake/Denver senior staff: Mr. John A. Lindsay, Mr. Robert L. Miller, and Mr. Gerald L. Robinson. Donations in lieu of flowers should be sent to a Shriner's Hospital for Crippled Children.
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