James William Colbert Jr. ( December 15 , 1920 – September 11 , 1974 ) was an American physician and the first vice president of academic affairs at the Medical University of South Carolina ( MUSC ) , serving in this capacity from 1969 until his death in a plane crash in 1974 . He is the father of Stephen Colbert and Elizabeth Colbert Busch
plane crash
Eastern Air Lines Flight 212
James William Colbert Jr.