Carl Quimby Christol, who pioneered the field of international space law, died of natural causes at his home in Santa Barbara on February 22, at the age of 98. Christol was a longtime resident of Pacific Palisades prior to moving to Santa Barbara in 2004. He was a member of the Palisades Rotary Club and active at the Presbyterian Church, where he was instrumental in the development and success of the Peacemaking Committee. In 2003, on his 90th birthday, he swam 36 laps during a ‘Swim with Carl’ fundraiser on behalf of the YMCA pool in Temescal Canyon. As a member of the faculty of the University of Southern California from 1949 to 1987, Christol authored numerous academic texts including ‘The Modern International Law of Outer Space,’ which became the primer for the field of law that evolved with man’s foray into space. Christol ‘was an icon of space law,’ said Tanja Masson-Zwaan, president of the International Institute of Space Law. ‘As a student I consulted his classic textbook, and it is now consulted by those who are today my own students, along with his other writings.’ Christol served for six years as the chair of the Department of Political Science at USC. His research and writing focused on international space law, international law, U.S. constitutional law, American foreign policy, security issues resulting from terrorism, and human rights. He was a retired Army colonel and a recipient of the Bronze Star. He served in the 69th Infantry between 1941-1946 including at the Battle of the Bulge in Germany and was among the forces that made initial contact with Russian forces east of the Elbe River in 1945. Christol’s World War II experiences in Germany resulted in a lifetime interest in human rights. He developed a course at USC titled ‘The Politics of Peace & Human Rights,’ which he taught for many years. This was the first course devoted to this subject area taught at the undergraduate level at a major American university. Christol was born in 1913 on the farm homesteaded by his grandparents in what had been Dakota Territory at the time of homesteading. He graduated in 1934 from the University of South Dakota, where his father was a history professor. Christol received his Ph.D. degree from the University of Chicago in l940 and earned a law degree from Yale Law School in 1947. Christol wrote five books on international space law, and also authored a political science text with USC colleagues which ran to four editions. His early specialization in international space law resulted in teaching assignments at universities in Australia, Canada, China, Japan and Korea. From 1970 to 1975 he was a member of the U. S. Department of State’s Advisory Committee on International Law. As a member of the Commission to Study the Organization of Peace, Christol attended the United Nations law of the sea conferences in Geneva during the early 1970s. He became acquainted with Ambassador Arvid Pardo of Malta, who became a world figure as a result of his ‘Common Heritage of Mankind’ proposal for the ocean. When Ambassador Pardo’s official status later ended with a change of government in Malta, Professor Christol was able to obtain an appointment for him on the faculty of USC. Together they offered a graduate seminar in which Ambassador Pardo took the lead on ocean subjects and Professor Christol on outer space. During the 1970s and 1980s, Christol was a vice president of the Court of Man Foundation. On its behalf he met with many influential lawyers and judges in the United States, Europe, and Africa seeking their support for the concept of ‘The Court of Man,’ a non-governmental tribunal designed to engage in prosecutions of governmental officials for violations of basic human rights. As a faculty member at USC, Christol was highly respected by his students for his academic integrity and his absolute commitment to their intellectual growth and well-being. He was the recipient of numerous student and faculty awards for excellence and innovation in teaching. For over 25 years he was the faculty advisor for Blackstonians, the undergraduate honorary scholastic pre-law society. His former students have achieved notable successes in the professions of law and teaching and in business and politics, both in the United States and abroad, including members of Congress, sub-cabinet officials, the Speaker of the California Assembly, and a Foreign Minister of Thailand. He had a great memory for names and faces and was able to identify many former students many years after graduation by their names. In 2009, Christol’s ‘The American Challenge: Terrorism, Detainees, Treaties, and Torture: The American Rule of Law, 2001-2008’ was published. It focused on America’s legal and military difficulties during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the vastly different appraisals of these situations, and the prospect that the United States might regain its reputation as a supporter of the world rule of law. After moving to Santa Barbara in 2004, Christol renewed his interest in the work of the United Nations Association of the United States (having served as president of the Los Angeles organization in the 1970s). His interest in arms control and disarmament resulted in his appointment as chair of the committee dealing with anti-personnel land mines and cluster bombs. This resulted in a cooperative political involvement with community leaders on the subject and subsequent communications with the White House and congressional leaders. These efforts were designed to secure the signing and ratification by the United States of the two current international agreements outlawing anti-personnel land mines and cluster bombs. Dr. Christol was predeceased by his wife of over 50 years, Jeannette, in 2000 and by his son, Richard, in 1983.’He is survived by his daughter, Susan (husband Jim Deacon) and by grandsons Dekker C. Deacon and Kyle Q. Deacon of Goleta. Memorial gifts honoring Professor Christol’s father may be made to the Carl Christol History Award, University of South Dakota Foundation, Vermillion, S.D., 57069, to support scholarships for undergraduate students. A memorial service is planned in March in Santa Barbara.
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