The Morehouse College community is grappling with the tragic deaths of two of its students, Hugh Douglas and Christion Files Jr., both aged 20, who were killed in a car crash in East Point, Georgia. The fatal accident took place on Monday evening when the car they were traveling in collided with a utility pole and flipped over. According to police reports, Files Jr., who was behind the wheel, was trying to pass another vehicle at a high speed, lost control, and veered off the road, striking two utility poles.
Hugh Douglas, the son of a former Pro Bowl defensive end for the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Jets, also named Hugh Douglas, was commemorated by his father through a series of emotional social media posts. The elder Douglas posted several old photos of him and his son, expressing his pride and love for his son, whom he described as already being a better man than him.
Both young men were on track to graduate from Morehouse College in 2025. Douglas was studying business administration with a specialization in finance, while Files Jr. was also pursuing a degree in business administration but with a focus on marketing. The loss of these two promising students has deeply impacted the college community. Kevin Booker, the vice president for student services and dean of Morehouse, referred to them as not only friends but also roommates in their sophomore year. He praised their dedication, passion, and excellence, stating that their legacy would continue to inspire the Morehouse family.
Douglas was an active participant in the Morehouse Business Association and a fellow of AltFinanceedu and Goldman Sachs, reflecting his dedication to his field of study. Files Jr., meanwhile, held several leadership roles on campus. He was a co-captain of the school’s track and field team, the media chair for the junior class council, and a member of the Morehouse Business Association.
The elder Douglas, a three-time Pro Bowler, had a successful ten-year career in the NFL, playing for the Jets, Eagles, and Jaguars. He was a first-round draft pick by the Jets and played for them 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 brief period with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2003, he returned to Philadelphia for his final season in 2004. He is currently a co-host of the mid-day show at Philadelphia-based radio station 94WIP.