Joseph Douglas Elliott was born on November 15, 1924 in Monterey Park, California. Following in his family's footsteps, Elliott became a fourth generation "Trojan" by graduating from the University of Southern California with a Bachelors and Masters in Education in 1952 and 1957, respectively.

Elliott had been a training teacher, a supervisor of music and special education, an assistant principal and principal. He received the prestigious Recognition of Outstanding Support/Service for Education (ROSE) Award in 2003 from the USC Rossier School of Education. He was also an active member of the USC Lambda Alumni Association and served on the USC Lambda Scholarship Committee from 1998-1999. He established an endowed scholarship, the Doug Elliott Scholarship in Education, through Lambda Alumni at the Rossier School of Education.

Elliott was an avid traveler later in his life, traveling to Spain, Turkey, Mexico, Greece and other locations. He supported many LGBT organizations in the community through his donations and participation, including the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center, the International Gay and Lesbian Archives, Highways Performance Space, Celebration Theatre, Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) and many others.

Elliott died on February 14, 2008 in Monterey Park, California.

Source:

Interview with Amy Ross, USC Board of Governors President Elect and founding member of the Lambda LGBT Alumni Association, http://alumnigroups.usc.edu/lambda/ross.html. (Accessed on November 11, 2013).