24 Facts About Verne Orr

Verne Orr was born on November 12,1916, in Des Moines, Iowa.

Verne Orr grew up in the Midwest, then moved with his family to California just prior to entering high school.

Verne Orr graduated from Pomona College in 1937 where he was awarded a Phi Beta Kappa key.

Verne Orr earned a master's degree in business administration from Stanford University in 1939.

Verne Orr reached the rank of lieutenant prior to being released from active duty in November 1945.

Verne Orr continued to serve in the Navy Reserve until 1951, when he was honorably discharged as a lieutenant commander.

Verne Orr was active in the auto dealership from 1946 until 1962.

However, Verne Orr began shifting his interests into his family's investment business around 1960.

In 1966, California's governor, Ronald Reagan, selected Verne Orr to be the director of the state's Department of Motor Vehicles.

Verne Orr then served briefly as the state's director of General Services before becoming California's Director of Finance in 1970, a position he held until 1975.

From 1975 to 1980, Verne Orr taught government finance at the University of Southern California's graduate school of public administration 1975 until 1980.

In 1980, Verne Orr served on Ronald Reagan's Presidential campaign committee.

Verne Orr served for five years, leaving the Air Force in 1985.

In 1999, Orr accepted the position of dean at the University of La Verne's School of Business and International Studies.

Verne Orr served as dean the university until June 2002 when he retired as dean emeritus.

In 2005, after working on his dissertation for 14 years, Verne Orr was award a doctor of philosophy degree in politics and public policy from Claremont Graduate University.

Verne Orr died on November 27,2008, at age 92, at his home in Pasadena, California.

Verne Orr has had a long and distinguished career in business, government and education including numerous awards.

Verne Orr was honored as Pasadena's Man of the Year in 1970.

Verne Orr has been Pasadena's Salvation Army Man of the Year, and received Pasadena's Patriot Award.

Verne Orr has served as president of the Pasadena Merchants Association, president of the United Way of Los Angeles County, president of the Kiwanis Club of Pasadena, and president of the Family's Services Association of Pasadena.

Verne Orr is director emeritus of Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena.

At the state level, Verne Orr was a University of California Regent and a Trustee of Scripps College in Claremont, California.

The University of La Verne has establishment of the Verne Orr Endowed Scholarship Fund.