Verne Orr
George Vernon Orr, Jr. (November 12, 1916 – November 27, 2008) was the 14th
Early life
Verne Orr was born on November 12, 1916, in Des Moines, Iowa. He grew up in the Midwest, then moved with his family to California just prior to entering high school.[1]
He graduated from Pomona College in 1937 where he was awarded a Phi Beta Kappa key. He earned a master's degree in business administration from Stanford University in 1939.[2][3]
Orr served in the United States Navy during World War II. In April 1942, he was called to active duty in the Navy Supply Corps. During the course of the war, Orr served in both the American and Pacific theaters of operations. He reached the rank of lieutenant prior to being released from active duty in November 1945. Orr continued to serve in the Navy Reserve until 1951, when he was honorably discharged as a lieutenant commander.[2]
Business and public service
Following his release from active duty, Orr began working at his father's new car dealership in Pasadena, California, eventually becoming a partner in the business. Orr was active in the auto dealership from 1946 until 1962. However, Orr began shifting his interests into his family's investment business around 1960. In 1963, he became president of Investors Savings and Loan of Pasadena, serving in that position until 1966.[2][3]
In 1966, California's governor, Ronald Reagan, selected Orr to be the director of the state's
From 1975 to 1980, Orr taught government finance at the University of Southern California's graduate school of public administration 1975 until 1980. In 1977, California Governor Jerry Brown named him to the University of California's Board of Regents.[2]
In 1980, Orr served on Ronald Reagan's Presidential campaign committee. After Reagan was elected President, Orr became deputy director the President-elect's transition office. President Reagan appointed him Secretary of the Air Force in 1981.[2][4]
As the Air Force Secretary, Orr worked well with
After his Air Force service, Orr returned to Pasadena where he became a partner in Smith Orr & Associates, a planning and management consulting firm. In 1999, Orr accepted the position of dean at the University of La Verne's School of Business and International Studies. He served as dean the university until June 2002 when he retired as dean emeritus.[3][6]
In 2005, after working on his
Legacy
Orr died on November 27, 2008, at age 92, at his home in Pasadena, California.[1][7][8]
Orr has had a long and distinguished career in business, government and education including numerous awards. Orr was honored as Pasadena's Man of the Year in 1970. He has also been Pasadena's
At the state level, Orr was a
Orr's personal awards includes
The University of La Verne has establishment of the Verne Orr Endowed Scholarship Fund. The fund honors Orr's legacy of leadership and service by awarding an annual scholarship to a qualified and deserving student in the university's School of Business and Global Studies.[3]
Each year the United States
References
- ^ a b Song, Jason, "Verne Orr dies at 92—Air Force secretary during Reagan administration", Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California, 28 November 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Verne Orr (biography)". Washington, D.C: U.S. Air Force Public Affairs Office, United States Air Force. January 2004. Archived from the original on 2004-02-07.
- ^ a b c d e f g "University of La Verne establishes endowed scholarship fund honoring Verne Orr" (Press release). La Verne, California: University of La Verne. October 25, 2002.
- ^ Woolley, John T.; Gerhard Peters. "Nomination of Verne Orr To Be Secretary of the Air Force". The American Presidency Project. Santa Barbara, California: University of California (hosted).
- ^ Boyne, Walter J., Beyond the Wild Blue A History of the U.S. Air Force, Macmillan, New York: 1998, p.250.
- ^ a b "Honorable Verne Orr earned PhD at age 88". San Gabriel Valley Tribune. West Covina, California. June 8, 2005.
- ^ "Former Air Force Secretary dies at 92". Air Force Link. United States Air Force. Archived from the original on December 12, 2012. Retrieved December 1, 2008.
- ^ "Obituary". Los Angeles Times. November 29, 2008.
- ^ "National Aerospace & Special Awards" Archived 2010-12-26 at the Wayback Machine, Air Force Association, Arlington, Virginia, 5 February 2008.