Paul F. Hoye

By Ismail I. Nawwab

Paul F. Hoye, editor of Aramco World Magazine for almost a quarter of a century, died recently of cancer after a brief illness. He was 59.

Visionary and pragmatist, dreamer of dreams and man of dazzling achievements, Paul fell passionately and possessively in love with Aramco World Magazine from the time he assumed its editorship. His intense dedication to the publication continued unabated to, and through, the time of his suddenly discovered tragic illness. When I telephoned him from Saudi Arabia to enquire about his health, soon after cancer had been diagnosed, all he would talk about was the magazine. Even in those circumstances, he completed an Aramco World story at his desk in Leiden, The Netherlands. He was working from his own notes, first-hand impressions and photographs, having just returned from covering New York's gala July Fourth Liberty Weekend for a long-planned "Arab Immigrant" issue of Aramco World.

A Candle of Understanding

Paul's last story, and indeed his creation of that special issue, are symbolic in more ways than one. First, they typify his deep and heartfelt determination to light a candle of understanding that would help to illuminate the world of the Arabs and Islam for the English-speaking West. Judging by Aramco Worlds standing worldwide among scholars, professionals, and laymen, Paul has succeeded in realizing this goal. Second, they show the importance he attached to the objective, fair portrayal of Arabs and Muslims to the West, and particularly to the Arab-American connection. Two other special issues that demonstrate clearly his bold and solid achievements as a crosscultural interpreter are those on the Hajj, the Muslim Pilgrimage to Makkah, and on the Arab woman. Paul's noble mind and tender heart are further attested by his superb conception of and tireless editorial toil and collaboration on the much-acclaimed Aramco and Its World:Arabia and the Middle East, a volume sponsored by Aramco.

Paul began his writing career as a reporter on the Providence (Rhode Island) Journal. It was at the Journal that he met his wife-to-be, Cathy, who, with their daughter, Eileen, and sons Patrick and Matthew, survives him.

Lebanon to Holland

In 1963, Paul won a Ford Foundation Fellowship in Advanced International Reporting at New York's Columbia University, where he studied Middle Eastern affairs. On completion of that program, he accepted the position of Aramco Worlds editor, based in Beirut. That was his home until 1976, when civil war forced the transfer of his editorial headquarters to Europe.

Under him, Aramco World winged its way from the confining goals of a run-of-the-mill, black-and-white company house organ, soared to wider cultural horizons, and reached the very heights of world-class corporate journalism. The magazine won several prestigious design and production awards, but the accolades Paul always prized most were the never-ceasing praise of its readers. He was extremely proud when, in a recent reader survey, seven of 10 persons responding rated Aramco World an excellent publication, many of them comparing it to Life or National Geographic. One reader quoted John Keats: "A thing of beauty is a joy forever."

"I start with the basic assumptions," Paul wrote recently, "that few people outside it know very much about the Middle East, but that many are fascinated by the myths and legends of its colorful past. In order to capture their interest in the Middle East today you have to present each subject with visually exciting color, graphics, layout, typography, illustrations, and photography."

Though he used mainly what he called his team of professional free-lance editors and writers, Paul always kept the pages of the magazine open to amateurs and beginners, a policy which brought a perpetual freshness of style and viewpoint to the publication and won him their affectionate thanks for his unstinting help and encouragement.

Although 24 years an editor, Paul never lost his reporter's touch, personally covering such stories as an international tanker voyage and, for a recent issue of Aramco World Magazine, Arab participation in the Liberty Weekend held in New York. He also never lost his verve in pursuing the exclusive story, dispatching the first team of journalists to report on Muslims in China and planning, even as he died, to follow up a new lead on the supposed whereabouts of Noah's Ark and with a missing link restored, retrace the old Silk Road trade route, which ran through the Near East.

In his interest in his readers, his independence of mind, his quest for graphic excellence, his lively humor, his indefatigable energy, and his endeavor to make this a better world, Paul was the thoroughbred editor. Two other qualities were represented in him: great courage and profound religious faith. The first blazed new trails for Aramco World Magazine, the second sustained him through his fruitful life and his brief but traumatic illness.

Paul F. Hoye's life is now extinguished. The beautiful candle he fit still burns.

Ismail I Nawwab is General Manager of the Aramco Public Affairs Department. This profile is adapted from an article Mr. Nawwab wrote for Aramco World.