George P. Larrick
George P. Larrick | |
---|---|
8th Commissioner of Food and Drugs | |
In office August 12, 1954 – December 27, 1965 | |
President | Dwight D. Eisenhower John F. Kennedy Lyndon B. Johnson |
Preceded by | Charles W. Crawford |
Succeeded by | James L. Goddard |
Personal details | |
Born | Springfield, Ohio | November 19, 1901
Died | August 11, 1968 Washington, D.C. | (aged 66)
Political party | Republican |
George P. Larrick (November 19, 1901 – August 11, 1968) was Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from 1954–1965.
Early life
George P. Larrick was born on November 19, 1901, in
Commissioner of FDA
Following the war, he served as Assistant Commissioner, Associate Commissioner and finally Deputy Commissioner of the FDA.[1] In 1954, he was appointed Commissioner, succeeding Charles Crawford. Commissioner Larrick headed the FDA during the period of its greatest growth.[1] In 1954, the Agency had less than 1,000 employees to regulate more than one fourth of the nation's commerce in consumer goods.[1] The First Citizen's Advisory Committee report became the blueprint for extensive changes in the organization and a rapid increase in its resources. During Larrick's tenure, FDA appropriations increased more than tenfold, from $5 million to over $50 million, and its staff expanded to almost 4,000.[1] The building program inaugurated during Larrick's administration provided modern laboratories for a majority of the FDA field districts and a $25 million headquarter's laboratory. His last official act was its dedication in December 1965.[1]
Larrick was noted for his ability to maintain good relations with Congress, and major amendments began to transform the 1938 Act from a primarily punitive law to one designed to assure consumer protection by preventing violations.[1] During Larrick's administration, however, the FDA came under strong criticism from some members of Congress. One of its strongest critics was Senator Hubert H. Humphrey, who accused the Agency of showing lax management, having ineffective leadership, of being slow moving, and of lagging in scientific work. Mr. Humphrey and others called for "new and dynamic leadership."[1] Larrick counted among his friends, however, Representative John E. Fogarty, the powerful chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.[1]
Major projects
Larrick's administration oversaw the 1959 cranberry recall due to residues of the carcinogenic pesticide
When Larrick announced his intentions to retire in 1965, John W. Gardner credited Larrick with great progress in administering the law, noting that "despite the twin handicaps of inadequate resources and inadequate legal authority, FDA has achieved remarkable success in its mission."[1]
After retirement
After he retired from active service, Larrick became a consultant on food and drug law and administration until he died.[1] In this capacity, he made a study for the Pan American Health Organization on the feasibility of a central food and drug laboratory for South American countries.[1] In 1955, the Drexel Institute of Technology conferred on him an honorary Doctorate of Science; and in 1968, he was recognized by the Association of Food and Drug Officials as a "catalyst who consistently brought about constructive change, and a skilled administrator in a field that requires experience, courage, respect for the rights of the regulated, and faith in the due process of law."[1] Larrick died on August 11, 1968.[1]
References
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Food and Drug Administration website