Douglas Staley Snyder

June 15, 1935-August 15, 2023

Despite his firm connection as a native of Casper, Wyoming, Doug as born in Utah. However, his father’s business took the family to Wyoming from Utah. His parents, Ivan and Marion Snyder grew up in Walla Walla, Washington and attended local business college there, marrying in 1928. Then beginning his career with Shell Oil. Doug’s sister, Susie, was born in Eugene, Oregon and Doug in Salt Lake City. They settled in Casper, Wyoming in 1940, just before Doug turned five. His father became a Pontiac dealer there, and his mother a bookkeeper for the firm.

Doug went to college at Westminster College, University of Iowa, Purdue, and then University of Washington in Seattle, where he met his wife, Nancy Olness, while working on his Ph. D in sociology. They married in 1967 and he became a professor at Florida Presbyterian College in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Now Eckerd College). He developed an interest in racial matters and became a Sociology Professor at Bowie State University in 1969, where he taught for many years and further studied racial issues.

He became a father of Karen and wrote articles on racial issues in colleges. He retired but stayed alert and interested in college racial issues. He influenced the creator of the Vietnam Memorial as his professor at Bowie State.

His lifelong interest in playing basketball led to his enjoying endorsing specific players and teams in letters to the editor.

“Grandoug” was very proud of his only granddaughter, Clara Margaret, and was proud to see her graduate from high school last year and continue her education at Goucher College by following in his footsteps studying Psychology and Education Studies.

A funeral service for Douglas will be held Saturday, August 19, 2023 at 1:00 PM at United Parish of Bowie, 2515 Mitchellville Road, Bowie, MD 20716.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.robertevansfuneralhome.com for the Snyder family.