In Loving Remembrance of Alexander Julian Class of 1939

[SUSAN J. SILVESTRI]

Hollywood high school remembers Alexander Julian, Class of 1939. The captain (USN retired) passed away on March 17, 2009 at the age of 87. His was a distinguished life, first in his career in the Military, the Science Community and later as a civic activist. After graduating from Hollywood, he won an appointment to the Naval Academy in 1941. While there, the National AAU gymnastic champion was named captain of the Gymnastics Team. Graduating with the Class of 1945, he was assigned to the Portland. Serving in the Pacific, he participated in what many call “The Last Great Battle” of surface warships in Naval History. Surviving suicidal Kamikaze attacks near Okinawa and the Philippines, he bravely served in the USN. After Flight Training, Captain Julian earned his Wings in 1947. Always enjoying Learning, he received his post graduate Degree from the Navy as well as a Nuclear Physics degree from MIT. Some of his professors worked on the Manhattan project. Alexander went on to become a project officer during the Atomic Tests in the Bikini Islands as well as in Yucca Flats, Nevada. Before retiring from the Military in 1968, he worked, as the Chairman, on Polaris Missile Development. As a military assistant for Strategic Weapons, he served in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. It was in the Defense Department, that he encountered Richard Perle (Class of 1959) another Hollywood High Graduate. Perle would go on to serve in the Reagan Administration. It is interesting to note that another Hollywood Alumni, Warren Christopher (Class of 1942 ) served as President Clinton’s 1st Secretary of State. In the private sector, Alexander Julian joined the Aerospace Division as Manager of Ocean Development, where he worked with Oil Companies. Teaming up again with the Navy, he worked on worldwide weather tracking. He retired in 1981, relocating to South Carolina. It was there that he began another career as a consultant and lobbyist until 1993. After that, he was active in Civic affairs that included the Public Library and the Arts Commission. Those who knew him well knew of his love for Duplicate Bridge, and that led to establishing a Bridge Club in Myrtle Beach. A distinguished American, his was a Noble Life, filled with Heroics, Adventure, Education and Honor. Hollywood High School salutes Alexander Julian. Our condolences to his wife Jean, sons Alexander III, William and Matthew, daughter Amanda and 3 brothers. The Alumni Association would also like to thank Julian’s brother Colonel Thomas Julian (USAF retired 1952) for his help in putting together this remembrance.

Retyped by our trusted and valued volunteer Tammy Levario