mourns the passing of W. Houston Dougharty ’83, a long-time staff member and devoted alumnus, who died late last week in his hometown of Santa Fe, New Mexico. He was 63 years old.
Dougharty served Puget Sound in various roles, leaving a lasting legacy on the Logger community. He began his career at the university in Admissions, working from 1983–1986 and again from 1987–1994. He later returned to campus as Associate Dean of Students, a position he held from 1999–2006. During his time as associate dean, Dougharty was instrumental in developing initiatives that continue to enrich campus life. These included establishing departments to support students of color and LGBTQ students, launching Maroon Fridays and LogJam!, and forming the Student Alert Group (SAG).
He emphasized the importance of Wheelock Student Center as the heart of campus, a belief now reflected in the W. Houston Dougharty Hearthstone Award—an annual honor presented to an individual or group that has contributed to enhancing life in the student center.
Dougharty also launched several key initiatives, including the Student Affairs Summer Internship (SASI); the Year 2 Initiative (Y2i), which supports sophomore students through community-building programs aimed at increasing retention; and the Mandated Assessment of Risk of Suicide or Self-Harm (MARSSH). He also helped establish the LGBTQ Leadership Scholarship and the Lavender and Graduates of Color Celebrations.
“Houston was a legend at Puget Sound. He loved this place and created a number of long-standing traditions, but what's more is that he loved the people,” said Sarah Comstock, vice president for student affairs and dean of students. “One of his favorite parts of being a Logger, was the pride he took in mentoring the people around him, whether it be students, faculty, or staff, and then connecting us with others. He was a gem.”
Dougharty was known for leading an annual Spring Break trip to New York to see world-class theater. He is also the mastermind behind developing the “Once a Logger, Always a Logger” chant. Even after leaving Puget Sound in 2006, he continued to support the university, volunteering with Logger Athletics and the Council, and was a frequent visitor to campus. To honor his years of service, the university recognized him with the 2023 Professional Achievement Award.
Dougharty was a titan in the Student Affairs profession, serving at several different schools before retiring from Hofstra University in New York. Comstock says he could always be counted on for strong leadership and for providing a listening ear to colleagues nationally. It was because of this leadership that he was awarded the Scott Goodnight Award for Outstanding Performance as a Dean from NASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education in 2022.
W. Houston Dougharty grew up in Santa Fe and enrolled at Puget Sound in 1979, sight unseen, becoming the first in his family to attend college outside the Southwest. He graduated in 1983 with a bachelor of arts in English literature. At Puget Sound, he was active in ASUPS and developed a passion for theater, performing in numerous student productions and with the Tacoma Actors Guild. Dougharty is survived by his wife, Kim, and their children, Fen and Allie.
The family requests that gifts in remembrance of Houston be made to the university’s LGBT Leadership Scholarship. Contributions can be made online or by mail to , Office of Donor Relations, 1500 N. Warner St. #1011, Tacoma, WA 98416-1011.
