The tragic loss of two promising Morehouse College students, Hugh Douglas and Christion Files Jr., both 20, in a car accident in East Point, Georgia, has left their families, friends, and the college community in mourning. The accident occurred on Monday evening when the vehicle they were in crashed into a utility pole and overturned. The police reported that the accident happened when Files Jr., who was driving, attempted to overtake another vehicle at high speed, lost control, and veered off the road, hitting two utility poles.
Hugh Douglas, the son of former Pro Bowl defensive end for the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Jets, also named Hugh Douglas, was remembered by his father in a series of heartfelt social media posts. The elder Douglas shared several throwback photos of him and his son, expressing his pride and love for his son, who he said was already a better man than him.
Both young men were expected to graduate from Morehouse College in 2025. Douglas was pursuing a major in business administration with a focus on finance, while Files Jr. was also studying business administration, with a concentration in marketing. The college community has been deeply affected by their loss, with Kevin Booker, vice president for student services and dean of Morehouse, describing them as not just friends but roommates in their sophomore year. Their dedication, passion, and excellence, he said, would continue to inspire the Morehouse family.
Douglas was an active member of the Morehouse Business Association and a fellow of AltFinanceedu and Goldman Sachs, demonstrating his commitment to his field. Files Jr., on the other hand, was a co-captain of the school’s track and field team, media chair for the junior class council, and also a member of the Morehouse business association.
The elder Douglas, a three-time Pro Bowler, had a decade-long career in the NFL, playing for the Jets, Eagles, and Jaguars. He was drafted in the first round by the Jets and played for two seasons from 1995 to 1997. He was then traded to the Eagles for two draft picks ahead of the 1998 season. After a stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2003, he returned to Philadelphia for one last season in 2004. He currently co-hosts the mid-day show at Philadelphia-based radio station 94WIP.