In memoriam: Jim Hitchman

[ Editor's note: This obituary first appeared in the News Times of Newport, Oregon. ]

Jim Hitchman of Waldport, Oregon, died on Nov. 18, 2015, at his home after an extended illness.

He was born in Los Angeles and graduated from Newport Harbor Union High School in Newport Beach, California. At Willamette University he won awards and honors in drama, track and field, history and was elected student body president.

He served in the U.S. Marine Corps and earned his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of California, Berkeley. After winning an outstanding teaching award at Portland State University, he spent most of his career at Western Washington University as a professor of history after being dean of students during the student revolt of the late 1960s.

He lectured at the University of Mysore, India on a Fulbright award and published a number of books and articles in U.S. diplomatic and maritime history and colleges and universities in Oregon and Washington. In retirement he liked to garden, sail, compete in Masters Track and Field and lecture at the Oregon Coast learning Institute. In 2010 he wrote a history of the Port of Toledo.

He is survived by his wife, Carolyn, brother John, ex-spouse, three children and six grandchildren.