Obituary: Dr Joseph Hilmy, distinguished academic who made his life in Scotland

Dr Joseph Hilmy’s impressive academic career began in Cairo, Egypt. At the University of Cairo, he received diplomas in taxation and financial science, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in commerce and a Master’s degree in political science.

Dr Hilmy was also an elite athlete. In 1954, he represented Egypt in basketball against Italy and France in the European championships.

In 1955, he emigrated to Scotland and became a British citizen. He earned his PhD in economics at the University of Aberdeen in 1959. All the while he continued to pursue his athletic endeavours at the university, earning half blues in basketball in his first year. He later became the first non-American captain of the basketball team, earning full blues in 1956. He captained the basketball team for four years.

He was a member of the National Planning Committee of the Presidency of Egypt between 1959 and 1960, in charge of research and policy, and he co-authored Egypt’s first economic development plan. He was a lecturer in economics at Aberdeen College of Commerce in Scotland between 1961 and 1966. He became head of the department of commerce in Lander Technical College in Dunfermline between 1966 and 1967.

In 1967, the British government recommended Dr Hilmy’s appointment to the World Bank in Washington DC. He served on numerous international economic missions in Africa and Asia and was the World Bank delegate to various United Nations and United Nations Conference on Trade and Development conferences.

While at the World Bank, Dr Hilmy began teaching at the George Washington University in Washington, becoming a full professor in 1981. He eventually retired from the World Bank, remaining a consultant.

He was chairman of the accountancy department at the George Washington University School of Government and Business Administration between 1986 and 1991. He continued to teach full time until his retirement in 2002 at the age of 76. Dr Hilmy is survived by three children: Nicola Hilmy-Jones, Steven Hilmy and David Hilmy; three grandchildren: Patrick Jones, Mara Hilmy and Jordan Hilmy; and his former wife Norma Whaling.

The funeral service is at 2pm tomorrow, 26 October, at City of Edinburgh Methodist Church, Nicolson Square, Edinburgh.