Richard C. Pugh ’51

Richard C. Pugh ’51, one of the most admired members of the class, died on December 5, 2015, at his home in Thousand Oaks, California. He was a Rhodes scholar and had a distinguished career as a law professor, author and legal practitioner specializing in corporate and international tax law. At Dartmouth Dick was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and served as senior class president and valedictorian. He was a member of Casque & Gauntlet, Kappa Sigma, Palaeopitus, the Undergraduate Council and Green Key. He rowed on the 150-pound crew. Following his Rhodes experience he served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy for three years, then earned a law degree from Columbia University. He taught international and tax law at Columbia and later at the University of San Diego Law School, where he was named a university professor. For more than 20 years he was a partner in the law firm of Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton in New York. He also served for two years as deputy assistant attorney general in the tax division of the U.S Department of Justice. He is survived by his wife, Nan, three children (including Richard Jr. ’79 and Catherine’87) and seven grandchildren (including Molly Morse ’14). Dick’s family describes his most satisfying legacy as the many students he taught and mentored through the years who appreciated his extensive knowledge and warmth and sense of humor.