David Joshua Pittman (d. 2002) received his Bachelor of Arts degree and Master of Arts in sociology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He received his Ph.D. in human development from the University of Chicago. He became a professor at Washington University in 1958. In 1963, he became the director of its former Social Science Institute. He was chairman of the sociology department from 1976 to 1986 and later taught in the psychology department. He retired in 1993.

Pittman was a consultant to the St. Louis Police Department and served on President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice. His research and expertise resulted in the first public detoxification centers in North America in 1968. He was recipient of the Page One Civic Awards, St. Louis Newspaper Guild in 1967 with Dr. Joseph Kendis. He served on the Boards of the National Council of Alcoholism, President North American Association of Alcoholism Programs, and Chairman of the 28th Internal Congress on Alcoholism. He served on the Missouri Advisory Commission on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse and was a member of the Missouri Mental Health Commission.

Pittman also wrote and edited several books and articles, including “Revolving Door” and “Society, Culture and Drinking Patterns Reexamined.”