Lawrence Kalter Roos

Background

Lawrence K. Roos was born in Saint Louis, Missouri on February 1, 1918.

Education

He attended Yale University, graduating in 1940, and served in the United States Army from 1941 to 1945.

Career

In the army, he served in the European Theatre, rising to the rank of major. He was awarded with a bronze star and five battle stars. After World World War II, he worked in Saint Louis for an advertising and public relations firm.

Roos was first elected to public office in 1946, serving two terms (1947-1951) in the Missouri House of Representatives.

After several years out of politics, he was elected as Saint Louis County Supervisor (now known as "Street Louis County Executive") in 1962. He would remain as county executive for three terms (1963-1975).

While serving as county executive, he was the Republican nominee for Governor of Missouri in 1968. Following his three terms as county executive, Lawrence Roos was appointed first as vice president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Saint Louis, and then on March 5, 1976, President of the Bank.

He would serve as President of the Bank from March 1976 to January 31, 1983.

Lawrence Roos died from stomach cancer in Barnes-Jewish Hospital in Saint Louis on September 23, 2005 at the age of 87. The Saint Louis County administrative office building in Clayton was named the " Roos Government Building" in his honor.

Achievements

• Although he won the Republican primary easily, he lost the general election to incumbent governor, Warren E. Hearnes by a margin of 61-39%.