# H. Douglas Barclay

Hugh Douglas Barclay (July 5, 1932 – March 14, 2021) was an American politician, diplomat, and attorney from the state of New York. He was a member of the New York State Senate from 1965 to 1984. Barclay also served as the United States ambassador to El Salvador from 2003 to 2007.

## Early life and education

The son of Brig. Gen. Hugh Barclay and Dorothy Moody Barclay, Barclay was born on July 5, 1932 in New York City and moved to Pulaski, Oswego County, New York. He attended Pulaski Academy and Central Schools and later attended St. Paul's School. Barclay earned a B.A. from Yale University in 1955 and went on to serve in the United States Army for two years. He then received a J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law in 1961.

## Career

From 1961 until 2003, Barclay served as a partner at the upstate New York law firm of Hiscock & Barclay, a law firm specializing in banking and administrative law.
A Republican, Barclay was a member of the New York State Senate from 1965 to 1984, sitting in the 175th, 176th, 177th, 178th, 179th, 180th, 181st, 182nd, 183rd, 184th, and 185th New York State Legislatures. During this long tenure, he chaired the Senate Codes Committee, the Senate Judiciary Committee, the Select Task Force on Court Reorganization, and the Senate Republican (Majority) Conference. He was responsible for passing more than 500 pieces of legislation.
Between 1990 and 1993, Barclay was appointed a public board member of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation by President George H. W. Bush.
Barclay's appointment as Ambassador to El Salvador by George W. Bush was announced August 21, 2003, and the nomination was sent to the Senate for confirmation on September 15. The Senate confirmed the nomination on October 3. He was sworn in as ambassador on November 12, and presented his credentials to El Salvador's president, Francisco Flores, on December 18. He completed his tour as ambassador in January 2007.
Barclay received the El Salvadorian National Congress award of the Nobel Amigo de El Salvador (2006), and the Republic of El Salvador award of the Order of José Matías Delgado in 2007.

## Community involvement

Barclay was an influential leader at Syracuse University. He served as an SU Trustee from 1979 until 2007, and was the chair of the board from 1992 to 1998. He was also a member of the College of Law Advisory Board. In 1984, he received the George Arents Award Pioneer Medal, Syracuse university's highest alumni honor, for Excellence in Law and Public Service. In 1985, the law library at the Syracuse University College of Law was named in his honor. He also received an honorary degree from SU in 1998.
Barclay received Clarkson University's Bertrand S. Snell Award (1987), the St. Lawrence University Distinguished Service Award (1985), and the SUNY Potsdam North Country Citation (1985).

## Personal life

Barclay was married to Sara J. "Dee Dee" Seiter for 61 years. The Barclays had five children, including Assemblyman Will Barclay (born 1969).
Barclay died on March 14, 2021 at the age of 88.

## Sources

* ↑ "H. Douglas Barclay passes away at 88". news10.com. March 16, 2021.
* ↑ "Chiefs of Mission for El Salvador". history.state.gov. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
* ↑ "Brig. Gen. Hugh Barclay". newspapers.com. July 23, 1968.
* 1 2 "H. Barclay". obits.syracuse.com. March 15, 2021.
* ↑ The New York Red Book. Vol. 76. Williams Press. 1967–1968. p. 75. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
* 1 2 3 Michael, Matt (March 18, 2021). "Syracuse University Mourns Loss of H. Douglas Barclay L'61, Life Trustee and Former Board Chair". SU News. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
* 1 2 3 Eyle, Alexandra (Spring 1998). "A Lifetime of Service: H. Douglas Barclay". Syracuse University Magazine. 14 (3): 26–31. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
* ↑ "Nomination of H. Douglas Barclay To Be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation". George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum. June 24, 1992. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
* ↑ "Oswego County Recognition". Oswego County Government. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
* ↑ "Fallece exembajador de Estados Unidos en El Salvador, Douglas Barclay, a sus 88 años". Diario El Salvador (in Spanish). March 17, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
* ↑ "Home – Trustees". trustees.syr.edu. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
* ↑ "Arents Award". cusecommunity.syr.edu. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
* ↑ "Stacks of History". law.syr.edu. Syracuse University College of Law. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
* ↑ Dedication of the H. Douglas Law Library at New York Heritage
* ↑ "Library Detail: H Douglas Barclay Law Library/Syracuse University College of Law". nyslittree.org. The NYSCA Literary Map of New York State and The NYSCA Literary Tree. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
* ↑ "Bertrand H. Snell Awards". clarkson.edu. Clarkson University. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
* 1 2 "H. Douglas Barclay, 88: Towering figure in state, local politics passes away over weekend". Oswego County News Now. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
* ↑ Duncan, Brenda (March 16, 2021). "Today's obits: Calling hours set for H. Douglas Barclay, 88, former lawyer, CNY politician, GOP leader". The Post-Standard. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
New York State Senate :
| Preceded byHenry A. Wise | New York State Senate 43rd District 1965 | Succeeded byLloyd A. Newcombe |
| Preceded byBryce Barden | New York State Senate 50th District 1966 | Succeeded byThomas Laverne |
| Preceded byLloyd A. Newcombe | New York State Senate 43rd District 1967–1972 | Succeeded byRonald B. Stafford |
| Preceded byJohn H. Hughes | New York State Senate 45th District 1973–1982 | Succeeded byRonald B. Stafford |
| Preceded byJames H. Donovan | New York State Senate 46th District 1983–1984 | Succeeded byJohn M. McHugh |
| Diplomatic posts |||
| Preceded byRose M. Likins | United States Ambassador to El Salvador 2003–2006 | Succeeded byCharles L. Glazer |