Background
Pawley, William Douglas was born on September 7, 1896 in Florence, South Carolina, United States. Son of Edward Porcher and Irene (Wallace) Pawley.
Pawley, William Douglas was born on September 7, 1896 in Florence, South Carolina, United States. Son of Edward Porcher and Irene (Wallace) Pawley.
Educated private schools, Gordon Military Academy (Georgia). A.A. (honorary), Gordon Military College, 1971. D.Aviation Management (honorary), Embry-Riddle Aeronautical U., Daytona Beach, Florida, 1975.
Organized, became president Compania Nacional Cubana de Aviacion Curtiss, Havana, Cuba, 1928 (merged Pan American Airways 1932). Executive vice president Intercontinent Corporation, New York, 1933. President Intercontinent Corporation, China National Aviation Corporation, 1933.
Built 3 aircraft factories in China for Nationalist Government, 1934-1938. Organized American volunteer group Flying Tigers, 1940. Organized, became president Hindustan Aircraft Manufacturing Company, Bangalore, India, 1940.
Built ammonium-sulfate plant, Travancore, India, 1944. American ambassador to Peru, 1945-1946, to Brazil, 1946-1948. Organized, became president Autobuses Modernos, S.A., Havana, Cuba, 1949.
Special assistant to secretary state, Washington, 1951, special assistant to secretary defense, 1951-1952. Special assignment Department State, 1954. Owner, president Miami Beach Railway Company, Miami Transit Company, South Miami Coach Line (sold to Metropolitan Dade County 1962), Clifton Corporation.
Owner Talisman Sugar Corporation, Belle Glade, Florida, 1963-1976. Director Florida National Bank & Trust Company Delaware Inter-American Conference Maintenance Continental Peace and Security, Petropolis, Brazil, 1947. Delegate 9th International Conference American States, Bogotá, Colombia, 1948.
Member Eisenhower Presidential Library Committee. Member sponsor’s committee Cuban Families Committee for Liberation Prisoners of War (New York). Member board Greater Miami Philharmonic Society, United States Strategic Institute Board of directors George C. Marshall Research Foundation, Lexington, Virginia.
Member of national board Boys’. Clubs: Indian Creek Country, Bath, La Gorce Country (Miami Beach).
Married Annie-Hahr Dobbs, July 25, 1919 (divorced).; married second, Edna Earle Cadenhead, June 30, 1943. Children: William Douglas, Clifton Dobbs (deceased), Annie-Hahr (Mistress Hobert Bommer McKay), Irene Wallace (Mistress C. Jackson Baldwin).