William R. Catton, Jr.

William Robert Catton, Jr. (January 15, 1926 – January 5, 2015) was an American sociologist best known for his scholarly work in environmental sociology and human ecology. His intellectual approach is broad and interdisciplinary. Catton's repute extends beyond academic social science due primarily to his 1980 book, Overshoot: The Ecological Basis of Revolutionary Change. Catton has written three other books, including From Animistic to Naturalistic Sociology and his 2009 book Bottleneck: Humanity's Impending Impasse. In addition he has authored numerous scholarly articles, book chapters and book reviews.

William Catton was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on January 15, 1926. He served in the US Navy from 1943 to 1946. After his military service he enrolled at Oberlin College, where he met Nancy Lewis. The two were married in 1949 and produced four sons, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Catton graduated from Oberlin College with an A.B. degree in 1950, whereupon he entered the graduate program in sociology at the University of Washington. He earned his M.A. there in 1952 and his Ph.D. in 1954. He was Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Washington State University. Catton served as president of the Pacific Sociological Association 1984-85 and as the first chair of the American Sociological Association Section on Environmental Sociology.

Catton died on January 5, 2015.

William Catton started his professional career as a mainstream sociologist, without a special focus on the environment. However, in the course of his early research he worked with John Hendee, a USFS forest ranger, and Frank Brockman, a National Parks naturalist who became Professor of Forestry at the University of Washington. Catton became sensitized to population issues by noting the congestion at campgrounds in the natural parks he visited in the northwest US and Canada. He was also influenced by the museum exhibits in the Visitor Centers in these parks.

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