55151
VADM William Douglas Houser, USN (Ret)
William Douglas Houser, a longtime Virginia resident, was born in Atlanta,
Georgia, on November 11, 1921, son of Harry M. and Berenice (Norton)
Houser. After attending
entered the
42 in December 1941, following the Japanese attack on
spent three years of wartime service in the Pacific, stationed aboard the
USS NASHVILLE, involving combat experience during the capture and
defense of Guadalcanal included raids on Marcus and
operations at Leyte and
training and was designated a Naval Aviator in 1946. He again saw combat
experience in 1953 as the commanding officer of Fighter Squadron 44,
during which he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Combat M for
meritorious services against North Korean and Chinese Communist forces.
During his military career, he had numerous key commands to include
Commanding Officer of USS Constellation (CVA-64) during the
War, and Commander, Carrier Division TWO, which entailed commanding
naval task forces, both national and international, of up to three aircraft
carriers and twenty other ships. Military staff assignments included duty in
the office of the Chief of Naval Operations and two tours on the Joint Staff
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In 1962, he served as Military Assistant to
Deputy Secretary of Defense
of the staff of the Net Evaluation Subcommittee of the National Security
Council. His last assignment on active duty was as Vice Admiral and Deputy
Chief of Naval Operations for Air Warfare from 1972 to 1976, having
operational and budgetary responsibility for all
stations, air wings, squadrons, aircraft, and aviation personnel. While on
active duty, VADM Houser received numerous medals and decorations
including the Distinguished Service Medal (2 awards), Legion of Merit (4
awards), Bronze Star with Combat V, Air Medal with Gold Star,
Commendation Medal with two Gold Stars and Combat V, and numerous
theater and campaign medals from World War II, Korean War, and the
Vietnam War. After his military service, he pursued a highly successful
career in the telecommunications industry, beginning as Director of
Satellite Interconnection for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting from
1976 to 1979. He then moved on to serve as Director of Special Projects for
the Communications Satellite Corporation from 1979 to 1981 and later
become their Vice President for Technical Services from 1981 to 1984. This
was followed by his service as President of Packet Technologies (1984-
1986), Interfax (1989-1991), and COM21 (1991-1994). Just a few of his
proudest accomplishments are:
Graduate (2003); founder and long-time supporter of the highly successful
Midway Memorial Award, Annual Dinner, and Foundation; and, Tailhooker
of the Year (1972). His principal memberships included the Golden Eagles,
the Military Order of the Carabao, the Army Navy Country Club (ANCC),
where he was an avid tennis player, and the Bohemian Club, in his
continuing education, he received a Master of Science degree from George
Washington University in 1963 and, in December 1963, completed the 44th
Session of the Advanced Management Program at
was married for 51 years to the former Betty Lou Worrell, who served
during and after World War II as a WAVE (Women Accepted for Volunteer
Emergency Service), Pharmacist Mate, Third Class Petty Officer. Betty Lou
passed away May 16th, 1997. On September 5th, 2003, he remarried to Jan
King Evans, who now survives him with his three daughters, grandchildren
and great granddaughter by his first marriage, Cindy Riera (Shelly, Scott,
and great granddaughter, Stella Grace), Gayle Fogleman (Christopher and
Heather), and Francie Washington (Evan and Emily), and two stepdaughters
and grandchildren, Karla MacMahon (Adela, Edward, and Alexandra) and
Louise Turner (Austin and Benjamin). VADM Houser peacefully passed
away with Jan at his side Sunday evening, February 5th 2012 from
pneumonia.)
