Townsend Hoopes facts for kids

Townsend Walter Hoopes II (born April 28, 1922 – died September 20, 2004) was an American historian and government official. He was best known for serving as the Under Secretary of the Air Force from 1967 to 1969.

Biography

Early Life and Education

Townsend Hoopes, often called Tim, was born in Duluth, Minnesota. He went to Phillips Academy for high school. Later, he attended Yale University, graduating in 1944. At Yale, he was part of the Skull and Bones society and captain of the football team. He also graduated from the National War College.

Family Life

Hoopes was married twice. His first marriage to Marion Schmidt ended. They had two sons, Townsend Walter Hoopes III and Peter Schmidt Hoopes. His second marriage was to Ann Merrifield, which lasted 40 years until his death. They had a daughter named Andrea Hoopes DeGirolamo. He also had four stepchildren and 11 grandchildren.

Later Years

Townsend Hoopes passed away on September 20, 2004. He died due to health problems related to melanoma.

Career

Military Service in World War II

During World War II, Hoopes served as a Marine Lieutenant. He fought in the Pacific theater of the war. He was part of the U.S. 5th Marine Division that captured Iwo Jima. He also took part in the first occupation of Japan after the war.

Government Roles

After the war, Hoopes worked in government. From 1947 to 1948, he was an assistant to the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. He then served as a staff aide to three Secretaries of Defense. These included James Forrestal, General George Marshall, and Robert A. Lovett from 1948 to 1953.

He then worked in the private business world for several years. He was a partner at an international consulting firm for seven years.

In 1964, he returned to public service. He became the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Affairs. From 1965 to 1967, he was a main deputy for International Security Affairs at the Pentagon.

Under Secretary of the Air Force

From 1967 to 1969, Hoopes served as the Under Secretary of the Air Force. This was a very important role at the Pentagon. During this time, he saw the effects of the 1968 Tet Offensive in Vietnam. He also witnessed President Lyndon B. Johnson's decision to reduce the fighting in Vietnam.

Post-Government Work

After leaving government, Hoopes continued to be active. He was a fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars for two years. From 1973 to 1986, he was the president of the Association of American Publishers.

He also became a co-chairman of Americans for SALT. He was a director of the American Committee on U.S. Soviet Relations. He was also a distinguished international executive at the University of Maryland, College Park. In 2002, he became a senior fellow at Washington College.

From the mid-1980s to 1995, Hoopes and his wife ran a singing group. This group, called Hoopes Troupe, performed for charity. They sang in places around Washington, D.C., including at the Supreme Court.

Awards

• 1974 Bancroft Prize