Douglas Richard Clough, age 75, passed away Thursday, January 15, 2015, in Houston, Texas. He was born January 31, 1939, in Cortland, New York to parents Dick and Ruth Clough. The family moved to Van Horn when he was three years old, and he graduated from Van Horn High School in 1957.
Doug attended Texas Tech University, and graduated with a Bachelor in Industrial Engineering. He moved to Houston after graduation and applied his education for 18 years working in the Armco Steel plant. When the steel plant shut down, Doug became the data base manager for a new Greater Harris County 911 organization. He spent the next 18 years managing the development and maintenance of the phone data base for emergency responses in Houston, Harris County, and several counties surrounding Harris County. Doug officially retired in 2002, but remained active in other organizations until his death.
Following a heritage from his father and grandfather, Doug was a member of the Van Horn Volunteer Fire Department while in high school in the 1950’s, and served in the Cloverleaf Volunteer Fire Department for 47 years. He served in all the ranking officer positions and finally as chaplain for the department. In the 1980’s and 1990’s, Doug participated and worked his way through the leadership ranks of the Harris County Firefighters Association, and also served as Sergeant of Arms in the Texas State Firefighters association. He also served on the board for the North Channel EMS, which provides emergency medical assistance in the Cloverleaf area east of Houston.
Doug enjoyed the fellowship of his church families at Woodforest Baptist Church and later at First Baptist Church North Channel, and has served as a church deacon for 40 years. He also served in the Woodforest Civic Association, and for many years has headed up the North Channel English Second Language program through the churches.
Doug is lovingly survived by his wife of 54 years, Patricia; son Daniel Clough and wife Mary in Cloverleaf, and son William Clough and wife Kendra from The Woodlands; four grandchildren, Daniel Jr. and Abigail in Cloverleaf, and Kendall and Cody in The Woodlands. Doug was preceded in death by his parents and older brother Don Clough, and is survived by his younger brother John Clough and wife Peggy from Cypress, Texas.
A celebration of Doug’s life was held with a large gathering at Carter Funeral Home in Cloverleaf on Sunday, January 18. Notes for the family may be posted online at the web site for the funeral home or mailed to the funeral home at 13701 Corpus Christi St., Houston, TX 77015.
