Obituaries: Perry Knowlton, Edwin McDowell

-- Publishers Weekly, 7/13/2007 7:50:00 AM

Perry H. Knowlton, former chairman and CEO of Curtis Brown, Ltd., died July 6 at age 80. Knowlton, who passed away from natural causes brought on by the advancement of Alzheimer’s, was a publishing industry veteran. After serving in World War II he began his career in the book business at Charles Scribner’s, where he worked in regional sales. Once in New York, he became an editor at Scribner’s before joining Curtis Brown in 1959 to run the agency’s book department. Throughout his career he represented such authors and estates as W.H. Auden, Betty Friedan, John Knowles, C.S. Lewis and A.A. Milne.

Knowlton was also active in philanthropy, especially in supporting environmental causes, and was one of the founders of the Sierra Club and Friends of the Earth. He also dabbled in acting and modeling and was one of the original "Marlboro men." Describing his father, Timothy Knowlton said: "To his family, friends and colleagues, he was always a dedicated mentor, advocate, enthusiast and enabler. He was one of the few true ‘renaissance men’ I've ever known."

Edwin McDowell, whose 26-year career as a reporter with the New York Times included a number of years covering book publishing, died Tuesday at his home in Bronxville, N.Y. He was 72. McDowell joined the Times in 1978 after working at several different newspapers, including the Wall Street Journal. McDowell was also the author of three novels and in 1964 wrote Barry Goldwater: Potrait of an Arizonian.