Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-24
Raymond D. Muir,
State Department
Protocol Aide, Dies

FWIOCOI Aluev VleS
Raymond D. Muir. 81. deputy
chief of protocol for the State
Department since April. 1851,
died yesterday of cancer in
Georgetown University Hospital.
Mr.. Muir lived at 4701 Western
avenue NV. He had beer. in the
State Departments protocol
division since 1943 and had
helped to escort and entertain
scores Of visiting dignitaries.
Mr.. Muir accompanied the
King and Queen of Greece on
their American tour last fall.
Crossing the Rockies at high
attitudes he experienced diff
cultieS with his lungs.
When he returned he went to
a hospital on Thanksgiving Day.
He returned to the hospital in
March for surgery and had a
lung removed. He began to fail
again about a week ago and re-
turned to the hospital on June Is
Talent Explains Career.
Mr.. Muir had a talent for see
ing that things did not go wrong.
It was that talent, according to
his friends. that explains his
Government career from a clerk
ship to the position OF No. 2 man
on official etiquette.
Secretary of State Dulles said
he was deeply grieved. at the
untimely death" of Mr.. Muir.
1.-The Department of State has
lost one of its most conscientious
servants" the Secretary said.
"Mr. Muir had a distinguished
career m public service with the
Navy, Veterans Bureau, as chief
usher at the White House and
finally as deputy chief of pro-
tocol. AS an officer of this De-
partment, he discharged his
duties with dignity. He will
long be remembered and his loss
will be regretted"
Mr.. Muir was born on June S.
1897, in Somerville, Mass. He
attended Washington College OF
Law. He spent his early days in
Nova Scotia and, when the
United States entered World
War I, he enlisted in the Navy.
Married in France.
After the war, he became a
civilian employee with the Graves
Registration Service and spent
several years in France. He was
married in France in 1921 to a
French girl, who survives him.
When he came back to this
country he obtained an appoint
ment as a contact representative
in the Veterans Bureau. In
1880, during the administration
of President Hoover, he was
given the job of assistant usher,
at the White House.
Ike Hoover. chief usher, died in
September. 1898, six months aft
er the Franklin D. Roosevelt
family had come to live in the
White House. Mr.. Muir was made
chief usher. d
The chief usher is responsible
for all social functions in the
White House, from state dinners
to the reception of any one the
President and his family invite
into the residence. BY all &C
counts the RooSevelts were the
most gregarious first family to
occupy the Executive Mansion,
and the chief usher had a busy
time of it. But Mr.. Muir filled
the bill.
In 1888, George T. Summerlin,
chief of protocol at the State
Department, asked him to be-
come his assistant. He trans
ferred to the State Department
in April of that year. He served
under Mr.. Summerlin's success
Sor, Stanley Woodward, and un-
der the present chief, John F.
Simmons.
Besides his widow, Mrs. Paul
inc Muir, he is survived by a
young daughter, Colette Dona
Muir.
Services will be held at 2 pm.
tomorrow in Fort Myer Chapel.
Burial will be in Arlington Gene
terry.