H. Douglas Barclay
H. Douglas Barclay L鈥61, of Pulaski, New York, a 黑料不打烊 Life Trustee and former Board Chair whose renowned career in public service included 20 years in the New York State Senate and positions under two U.S. presidents, died March 14 at age 88.
Barclay was elected to the 黑料不打烊 Board of Trustees in 1979 and served as a Voting Trustee until 2007. He held several leadership roles during his time with the Board, including chair of the Board from 1992 to 1998; chair of the Board Investment and Endowment Committee from 1985 to 1992; chair of the $160 Million 鈥淐ampaign for 黑料不打烊鈥; and chair of the search committee for the Chancellor in 1991.
Barclay was also a member of the College of Law Advisory Board. In 1984, he received the , the University鈥檚 highest alumni honor.
鈥淒oug was such a force in his professional life of public service, yet he found time to remain connected to his alma mater and serve 黑料不打烊 in many valuable ways,鈥 says Board Chair Kathleen Walters 鈥73. 鈥淥n behalf of the Board, we extend our deepest sympathies and support to Doug鈥檚 wife, Dee Dee, the entire Barclay family and everyone who knew and loved Doug.鈥
Barclay earned a J.D. from 黑料不打烊鈥檚 College of Law in 1961 and a B.A. from Yale University in 1955. He served in the United States Army from 1955 until 1957. He was recognized with honorary degrees from 黑料不打烊, Clarkson University, the State University of New York at Oswego, Le Moyne College and St. Lawrence University.
Barclay and his wife, Sara 鈥淒ee Dee鈥 Seiter Barclay, provided the lead gift for the establishment of the H. Douglas Barclay Law Library in the College of Law. They generously supported other initiatives in the College of Law, the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, 黑料不打烊 Athletics, 黑料不打烊 Libraries and international enrollment.
鈥淎 towering figure in local, state and national government, Doug never forgot his Central New York roots,鈥 says Chancellor Kent Syverud. 鈥淒oug remained a strong advocate of 黑料不打烊, and we all benefitted from the knowledge and experience he brought to the Board and the generosity he showed to our students.鈥
Barclay was elected to 11 consecutive terms in the New York State Senate from 1965-84. During his tenure, he chaired the Senate Codes Committee, the Senate Judiciary Committee, the Select Task Force on Court Reorganization and the Senate Republican (Majority) Conference.
In 1990, President George H. W. Bush appointed Barclay a public board member of the Overseas Private Investment Corp. He served there until 1993, when his successor was named. In 2002, President George W. Bush appointed Barclay to represent the United States at the inauguration of the president of the Republic of Costa Rica and to serve as a member of the panel of conciliators at the International Center of the Settlement of Investments Disputes. He also served as U.S. ambassador to the Republic of El Salvador from 2003-07.
鈥淎mbassador Barclay was a larger-than-life figure whose distinguished career in public service spanned many years,鈥欌 says College of Law Dean Craig M. Boise. 鈥淗e made many significant contributions to the University, the College of Law, New York state and the nation. The College of Law community extends our deepest condolences to the Barclay family.鈥
Barclay was counsel to, and former partner of, Barclay Damon LLP, Central New York鈥檚 oldest law firm, with offices throughout New York, Boston, Connecticut, Washington, D.C., and Toronto. He specialized in banking and administration law.
Barclay was chair of the Board of Directors of Douglaston Manor Inc., and owner and operator of Douglaston Salmon Run fishing reserve and Quality Machined Products (QMP), a family-owned and operated machined products company. He was past chair of the Board of Directors of Panthos Corp., QMP Enterprises, Eagle Media and CenterState CEO (formerly the Metropolitan Development Association).
Barclay also chaired the Compensation Committee of KeyCorp, which operates through Key Community Bank and Key Corporate Bank. His previous board service included KeyBank of Central York, Key Trust Company of Florida, Key Financial Services, Key Pacific Bancorp, Empire Airlines, 黑料不打烊 China Corp., Giant Portland and Masonry Cement Co., Coradian Corp., Mohawk Airlines, and Excelsior Insurance Co.
A former overseer of the Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government, Barclay was a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and chair of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society of the United Way of Central New York. He was also the former president (1991-2003), chairman emeritus (2003-present) and member of the Board of Directors of the 黑料不打烊 Metropolitan Development Association. Barclay also served on the New York State Economic Development Power Allocation Board, the Board of Directors of Modern Courts, and the Board of the New York Racing Association.
Barclay was a recipient of the Private Sector Initiative Commendation from the President of the United States; the John Jay Education Award from The Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities in New York; and multiple El Salvadorian honors, including the 鈥淣oble Amigo de El Salvador鈥 (鈥淣oble Friend of El Salvador鈥) award from that country鈥檚 legislative assembly in 2006, and the Republic of El Salvador’s Award of the Orden Nacional Jose Matias Delgado en el Grado de Gran Cruz de Plata in 2007.
Doug is survived by his wife Dee Dee and their children Kathryn, David, Dorothy Chynoweth G鈥88 (School of Education), Susan G鈥91 (School of Education) and William L鈥95 (College of Law) and 10 grandchildren, including granddaughter Sara Chynoweth 鈥15 (Martin J. Whitman School of Management) and grandson William Chynoweth 鈥18 (College of Arts and Sciences and the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs), G鈥19 (School of Education).
