Jess Larson

Larson was a member of the National Guard, and he was called into service as an artillery officer in the Army during World War II. He served in Italy and received the Legion of Merit and the Purple Heart medals. 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.^[2]

After leaving GSA, 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, Larson was president and chairman of the Air Force Association. For this work the Air Force conferred on him its Exceptional Civilian Service Award. Larson was a member of the Oklahoma Aviation Hall of Fame, the Metropolitan Club, the Army & Navy Club and the National Democratic Club.^[3]

Jess Larson's first wife, Germaine Moreau, died in 1964. He later married Zdenka Sokitch. Larson had one sister and two brothers: Gladys Larson Edwards, retired Army Col. Robert W. Larson of Springfield and K. P. Larson of Las Vegas. Jess Larson died in 1987 at the age of 82^[1] and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.^[4]