William E. Douthit, a native of Sharon Pennsylvania, became Executive Director of the St. Louis Urban League in 1964. Douthit earned a B.A. in Economics from Dilliard University (Louisiana) in 1951 and a masters degree in Labor and Industrial Relations from the University of Illinois Institute of Labor and Industrial Relations. Prior to joining the St. Louis Urban League, Douthit was Supervisor of Labor and Employee Relations for the Aeronautical Division of Minneapolis Honeywell Company, Executive Director of the Oklahoma City Urban League (1959-1962) and Secretary of the Industrial Relations Department of the St. Louis urban League (1954-1959).