Harvey V. Higley
Harvey Higley | |
|---|---|
| Administrator of Veterans Affairs | |
| In office July 22, 1953 – November 13, 1957 | |
| President | Dwight Eisenhower |
| Preceded by | Carl Gray |
| Succeeded by | Sumner Whittier |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Harvey Vanzandt Higley February 12, 1893 |
| Died | October 15, 1986 (aged 93) |
| Party | Republican |
| Education | University of Wisconsin, Madison (BS) |
Harvey Vanzandt Higley (October 26, 1892 – October 15, 1986) was an American businessman, civil servant and political operative.
Early life, family and education
[edit]Higley was born in Cheshire, Ohio. He studied chemistry at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, graduating in October 1915.[1] He served in World War I.
Career
[edit]He worked for the Ansul Chemical Company of Marinette, Wisconsin, which specialized in making fire retardant chemicals. Higley eventually became the company's president (1938–48)[2] and chairman of the board.[3]
Higley was also active in politics and veteran's affairs. He joined the American Legion and served as Wisconsin State Commander from 1941 to 1942.[4]
From 1947 to 1953, he was chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin. In July 1953, President Dwight D. Eisenhower appointed Higley to be the Administrator of Veterans Affairs,[5][6] where he helped to establish Veterans Day as a federal holiday.[7]
Later life and demise
[edit]Higley retired in November 1957. He subsequently returned to Wisconsin.[5]
He died on October 15, 1986.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ Murphy, Thomas H., ed. (January 1987). "Member News: Deaths". Wisconsin alumni. Vol. 88, no. 2. Archived from the original on December 4, 2014. Retrieved April 1, 2026 – via library.wisc.edu.
- ^ "Who We Are" (PDF). ansul.com. Ansul. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 17, 2010. Retrieved May 29, 2009.
- ^ a b "Harvey V. Higley". The New York Times. Associated Press. October 16, 1986. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
- ^ "University of Wisconsin Collection". library.wisc.edu. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
- ^ a b "Facts about the Department of Veterans Affairs" (PDF). va.gov. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Public Affairs. January 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 28, 2010. Retrieved July 26, 2010.
- ^ United States Government Organization Manual, 1956–1957. Washington, D.C.: Federal Records Division, National Archives and Records Administration. 1957. p. 522.
- ^ "Higley helped establish Veterans Day". Marinette EagleHerald. November 9, 2008. Archived from the original on July 10, 2011. Retrieved June 3, 2009.
External links
[edit]- Papers of Harvey V. Higley, Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library
- A film clip "Longines Chronoscope with Harvey V. Higley" is available for viewing at the Internet Archive
- Harvey V. Higley at Find a Grave
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- 1892 births
- 1986 deaths
- Businesspeople from Wisconsin
- People from Gallia County, Ohio
- People from Marinette, Wisconsin
- American businesspeople in the chemical industry
- Republican Party of Wisconsin chairs
- United States Department of Veterans Affairs officials
- University of Wisconsin–Madison College of Letters and Science alumni
- Wisconsin Republicans
- 20th-century American businesspeople
- United States Army personnel of World War I
- United States military personnel stubs
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