Douglas Charles Billian

Douglas Charles Billian, of Atlanta, Georgia and New York City, passed away on Saturday morning, September 15, 2012 at his home in Atlanta. After a courageous battle with a brain tumor, he spent his last days surrounded by his loving family, friends, and his devoted wife Louise “Lulu” Billian.

Doug was born on March 13, 1928, to Elsie Adelaide (nee Bowers) and Alfred Arthur Billian in Bound Brook, N.J. The youngest of four boys, he was a New Jersey state pole vaulting champion in high school. His lifelong passion for scouting began as a young boy when he followed his brothers into the Boy Scouts. He attained the level of Eagle Scout with bronze, silver, and gold palms and The Order of the Arrow. Through the years he has generously supported the Boy Scouts of America nationally as well the Scouts in Bound Brook. Through his stewardship, scholarships are awarded each summer for Scouts and Scoutmasters to attend the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico to encourage what he believed contributed to his own success.

After graduating from the Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University (which he attended under the U.S. Navy Holloway Midshipman Program), Billian received his Naval commission just prior to the Korean War outbreak, serving 1950 to 1953. He served aboard the destroyer USS Hyman (DD732), which engaged the enemy in Wonsan Harbor in the Sea of Japan in 1951.

After a twenty-year career with the McGraw Hill Publishing Company on publications such as Purchasing Week, Aviation Week and Business Week, Doug launched Billian Publishing, Inc., in 1978, with the acquisition of Golf World magazine (sold a decade later to the New York Times Group). Subsequent acquisitions include Textile World magazine, the textile group formerly published by Atlanta’s W.R. Smith Publishing Company, Art & Antiques, and the launch of Boating World Magazine (formerly Motor Boat Magazine and Small Boat Journal). Today, Billian Publishing Inc. thrives primarily serving the healthcare industry with Billian’s HealthDATA, Porter Research and Healthcare IT Research (HITR). The Textile Industries Media Group is the leading resource for textile news and information from around the globe. Its international titles include Textile World, Textiles Panamericanos and Textile World Asia.

Doug and Lulu shared many interests including art collecting and sustaining the arts. They enjoyed supporting and attending many art shows including The Winter Antiques Show in New York, Grosvenor House Antiques Fair in London, The San Francisco Antiques Show and numerous others. When collecting, they set rules which infused humor and endless delight, agreeing that they both had to enjoy the art and be intrigued by the artist.

With his brother Robert Billian and the local American Legion, he enthusiastically conceived and co-founded Billian Legion Park as a gift to the Bound Brook, NJ community. Doug lived to see the dream of Billian Legion Park become a reality as a place to gather, enjoy the outdoors, movies, concerts and other cultural events. The Park includes a sports field, playground, gazebo and walking paths with benches. The Billian Family Charitable Foundation continues to develop and support the future of the park, the community of Bound Brook and various charities.

Wherever and whenever possible, Doug indulged in his lifetime love of boating. Whether sailing in the British Virgin Islands or the Caribbean, cruising up the Rhine River or, most often, on a houseboat on Lake Lanier, near his home in Atlanta, Doug loved being on the water, especially witnessing a sublime sunset with close friends and family.

Doug Billian was a member of Cherokee Town & Country Club and The University Yacht Club, and a former member of Pinehurst Country Club and Magazine Publishers Association. He was a proud lifetime member of the National Association of Eagle Scouts sponsored by fellow Scout Astronaut Jim Lovell. He served on the Board of Trustees of The United States Golf Association, Meals on Wheels Atlanta, and as Chairman of the IFC Senior Citizens Foundation.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 26 years, Louise Lindsey Billian. He is also survived by his children, Tracey Billian Krause, Martha Billian Meyer with spouse Dan, Lindsey Perkins Mullen with spouse Tim, Charles Jackson “Jay” Perkins, Jr. with spouse Michelle, Douglas C. Billian Jr. with spouse Jennifer, eleven grandchildren, his brother Alfred Billian Jr. of Ft. Wayne, IN, and many nieces and nephews.

As a depression era child, his values were deeply engrained at an early age. Doug Billian will be remembered for his incredibly high moral standards, honorable character, utmost integrity and taking pride in all you do. His unrelenting work ethic, coupled with his love of publishing and investing, contributed to his success. However, his intense belief in providing for his family drove his ambition. He taught us all by the honorable life he led and those whose lives he touched have been inspired by his example.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Boy Scouts of America, Meals on Wheels Atlanta, Hospice Atlanta or your favorite charity. The family wishes to thank Visiting Nurse of Atlanta; especially Ricardo Roc, Augustine Lekettey and Tanya Balgun and Hospice Nurse Megan Stidham, R.N. for their exceptional care.

Visitation will be held at Patterson’s Spring Hill on Tuesday Evening, September 18, 6-8 p.m. and a Memorial Service at Cherokee Town Club on Wednesday, September 19, 2:00 p.m. with a reception to follow.

Online condolences may be made at www.hmpattersonspringhill.com.