Alfred James McCollum, Retired Vice President of Corporate Communications, Dies.

BERKELEY, Calif. -- Capt. A. James McCollum, 91, retired vice-president of corporate communications at Pacific Gas and Electric Co., and a fourth generation Californian, died Saturday following a brief illness at Alta Bates Hospital, Berkeley.

His distinguished career began with his graduation from the University of California in 1934 where he was editor of the Daily Californian.

After graduation McCollum taught journalism at Fresno State College and in 1935 was named managing editor of the Coalinga Daily Record serving with his newspaper pioneering father, Faye McCollum. He later became editor of the Fresno Guide.

From 1942 through 1946 he served in the United States Navy in the Pacific and American theatres. He remained in the active reserve and retired as captain and commander of Reserve Naval Intelligence Unit 12. He was a participant in the National War College in 1967 and the following year was a faculty moderator of the program.

In 1946, following his discharge from the Navy, he became publicity director of PG&E. In 1976 he was elected vice president of corporate communications and retired in May 1978.

McCollum's affiliations read like a novel. He served as trustee or active member of Alta Bates Community Hospital, the Advertising Council, the California Newspaper Publishers Association, California Press Association, Council for Financial Aid to Higher Education, Edison Electric Institute, Electric Companies Public Information Program, Engineers Club of San Francisco, Navy League of the United States, Pacific Coast Electrical Association, Pacific Coast Gas Association, Press Club of San Francisco, Public Utilities Communicators Association, San Francisco Advertising Club, The Society of Professional Journalists (Sigma Delta Chi), The University of California Alumni Association, Claremont Club, The Family, Sequoyah County Club and BPO Elks.

Since his graduation from Cal, with the exception of the war years, McCollum never missed a home football game. He sat in the same seats on the 49 yard line. Actually, he had "owned" the seats since 1932 having bought them as an undergraduate.

He had received many industry awards and honors related to the electric and gas industries, and advertising.

He was a native of Coalinga. In 1940 he married Helen Grimsley (deceased) and in 1973 married Harriett Hall Adam, the publisher of the Lompoc Record. She died last year.

Survivors are two children, Sudie Bel McCollum of Glendale and Dr. Duncan McDougall McCollum of Santa Cruz. Also surviving are his sisters, Mrs. Robert Sprague and Mrs. Mark T. Robbins and a brother, John Morris McCollum. Grandchildren include Natalie Isabella McDougall McCollum and Angus James (AJ IV) McCollum and Will Montgomery Mastel.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, July 31, at Grace North Church, 2138 Cedar St., Berkeley.