Background
Larson, Jess was born on June 22, 1904 in Mill Creek, Indian Terrace. Son of Leonard and Bessie (Downard) Larson.
administrator government official secretary
Larson, Jess was born on June 22, 1904 in Mill Creek, Indian Terrace. Son of Leonard and Bessie (Downard) Larson.
Larson attended high school at the Missouri Military Academy in Mexico, Missouri. Larson studied law in a Chickasha law office, and in 1934 he moved with his wife to Oklahoma City where he began practicing law.
As a young man he helped run family ranching and dairy businesses in Chickasha. While attending the Missouri Military Academy, he enlisted in the Oklahoma National Guard at age 16. He then went on to attend University of Oklahoma and the University of Oklahoma Law School.
In college, Larson was in the Reserve Officers Training Corps, and he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Oklahoma National Guard in 1923.
Two years after completing law school, Larson was elected as mayor of Chickasha. Larson was admitted to the Oklahoma bar in 1935.
From 1935 to 1939, he was secretary to the commissioners of the Oklahoma State Land Office. Near the end of the war, he was ordered to Washington.
In 1946, Jess Larson was appointed general counsel of the War Assets Administration, which was charged with disposing of surplus defense property.
He became administrator of the War Assets Administration in 1947. In 1949, President Truman nominated him to head the Federal Works Agency. Less than a month later, in July 1949, he was appointed the first administrator of the General Services Administration, which had just been formed.
He continued in that position until January 29, 1953.
After leaving General Services Administration, Larson established a private law practice in Washington. He was with the firm of Alvord and Alvord for many years and was of counsel to the firm of Stoel, Rives, Boley, Fraser and Wyse at the time of his death.
In 1956 Larson was promoted to Brigadier General, Air Force Reserve and in 1961 he was promoted to Major General, Air Force Reserve. He retired as a Major General in March 1966 after having served five years in grade.
From 1964 to 1971, Mr.
Larson was president and chairman of the Air Force Association.
Chairman board National Patent Development Corporation, New York City, 1959-1987. Entered Oklahoma National Guard as private, 1923. Commissioned Second lieutenant 1923.
Advanced through grades to colonel 1944. Served in Mediterranean, Italian theatres 1942-1943. Director tactics Field Artillery School, 1944-1945, Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
Assigned War Department General Staff, 1945. Transferred to United States Air Force Reserve, 1952, major general, retired. Member American, Oklahoma bar associations, Bar Assn, District of Columbia, Air Force Association (president 1964-1967), Delta Tau Delta.
Clubs: Mason (Washington and New York City) (32 degree), Metropolitan (Washington and New York City). Army and Navy (Washington).
Married Germaine Moreau, December 25, 1929 (deceased May 1964). Married Mistress Zdenka Sokitch, April 18, 1967.