F. Donald James

Forrest Donald James (1927–2019) was an ordained Methodist minister and academic who served as the acting president of the University of Rhode Island from 1967 to 1968 and President of Central Connecticut State University from 1968 to 1987.

Early life and education F. Don James was born on 14 December 1927 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Forrest James and Dorothy (Donaldson) James. In 1945 enlisted in the United States Navy and served as a coxwain on a Landing Craft Infantry (LCI(R)-1030) in the Western Pacific. He served for three years in the Navy and began studies at Oklahoma City University, earning an A.B in English in 1951.

Since the 1950s James was a part-time resident in Zollikon, Switzerland, and he was a long-time resident of Brookline, Massachusetts. He died on 6 May 2019 in Zollikon.