James Adams Moorhouse

Commerce/State Trade Official; Big Game Fishing Age Group Record Holder

Jim Moorhouse passed away peacefully after a long illness on September 7, 2017 at his home in Alexandria, VA in the presence of his wife and loving family.

Born in Chicago, Illinois in 1937 to Glen Moorhouse and Lenore Crowley, he was raised in Paris, France, along with his sister Ann, where they lived as his father served implementing the Marshall Plan after World War II. The family returned to Washington, DC in 1953 where Jim graduated from Western High School and went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Foreign Service (Cum Laude) from Georgetown University in 1959. He was awarded the University Reagent’s Gold Medal in Language. He served two years in the United States Army at SHAPE Headquarters outside Paris, France where he met his wife Micheline of 56 years. Leaving the US Army in 1961 he served as a Program Officer with Radio Free Europe at the Paris office. Returning to Washington, DC he joined the US Commerce Department Bureau of International Commerce (Export Promotion Program). He headed up the US Trade Center in Paris, France from 1974 to 1976 and helped dozens of American companies introduce their products into France. Jim was a civilian graduate of the National War College in 1977. In 1984 he was awarded the Department’s Silver Medal for Outstanding Leadership in the field of Export Promotion. In 1980 he transferred to the US Foreign Service and served as Commercial Counselor at the American Embassy in Lagos, Nigeria. In 1986 he was promoted to Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs in Paris, France where he often teamed up with Commerce Secretary Robert Mosbacher and Ambassador Carla Hills on important trade negotiations to protect US Europe trade relations. Moving to New Delhi, India as Minister Counselor in 1990 was perhaps the high point of his career where he could be a front row participant in the development of a win-win strategic partnership with India.

His travels enabled him to enjoy one of his many passions; big-game fishing in remote areas where he chased exotic species such as the Himalayan Golden Mahseer, the Nile Perch in Uganda, and the Goliath Tigerfish in the Congo, among other species. Jim was awarded the Presidential Meritorious Service Award in 1991 in recognition of his long service in promoting US business investment abroad and he retired in April 1992 only to be called back into service to help set up US government promotion programs in South Africa during the transition to President Mandela’s administration. He later joined Westinghouse Electric Corporation where he served for three years until 1998 as Vice President - International and Country Manager, India. He was an avid runner and completed two JFK 50 mile runs, two US Marine Corps Marathons, the New York City Marathon, and the original Athens Marathon. Jim was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Ann.

He is survived by wife Micheline; his sons Thomas and Patrick Moorhouse (Margo); daughter Karen Moorhouse Gahart (Kevin); and grandchildren Alex, Nathan and Emily Gahart; and brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, and nieces.

Interment at Arlington Cemetery will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, a donation in his memory can be made to the Inova Schar Cancer Institute – designation Radiation Oncology (www.inovacancer.org/donate).

Condolences may be expressed on line at www.demainefuneralhomes.com.