William J. Larkin Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William J. Larkin Jr.
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| Member of the New York State Senate from the 39th district |
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| In office January 1, 1991 – December 31, 2018 |
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| Preceded by | E. Arthur Gray |
| Succeeded by | James Skoufis |
| Member of the New York State Assembly from the 95th district |
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| In office January 1, 1983 – December 31, 1990 |
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| Preceded by | Eugene Levy |
| Succeeded by | Nancy Calhoun |
| Member of the New York State Assembly from the 97th district |
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| In office January 1, 1979 – December 31, 1982 |
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| Preceded by | Lawrence Herbst |
| Succeeded by | Stephen Saland |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 5, 1928 Troy, New York, U.S. |
| Died | August 31, 2019 (aged 91) New Windsor, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Patricia Kurucz |
| Residence | New Windsor, New York |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1944–1967 |
| Rank | Lieutenant colonel |
| Battles/wars | World War II Korean War |
| Awards |  Legion of Merit Commend. Medal (7) |
William J. Larkin Jr. (born February 5, 1928 – died August 31, 2019) was an American politician. He was also a retired officer from the U.S. Army.
Larkin was a brave soldier who fought in World War II and the Korean War. He retired from the Army in 1967 as a Lieutenant Colonel.
After his military career, Larkin became involved in politics. He served as a town supervisor in New Windsor, New York. As a member of the Republican Party, Larkin worked in the New York State Legislature for 40 years. He represented different areas in the Hudson Valley. He was a member of the State Assembly from 1979 to 1990. Later, he served in the State Senate from 1991 until he retired in 2018.
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Early Life and Education
William J. Larkin Jr. was born in Troy, New York. He was raised by his aunt and uncle. He went to La Salle Institute in Troy. Later, he studied at the University of Maryland and the University of Denver.
Military Service and Achievements
Larkin joined the United States Army in 1944 when he was only 16 years old. He thought he was 18 at the time. He later found out his real birth year was 1928, not 1926.
He fought in the Pacific theater during World War II. He saw action in the Philippines. After that, he went to officer training school. He was then sent to fight in the Korean War. Larkin led a unit of all Black soldiers. This was during a time when the military was still segregated. He had to leave the Korean War in 1951 because of severe frostbite on his feet. When he retired from politics in 2018, he was the last New York state lawmaker who had fought in World War II.
During his time in the Army, Larkin had many important experiences. He helped protect President John F. Kennedy during a visit to Berlin. He also met Martin Luther King Jr. He was escorting one of the Selma to Montgomery marches in Alabama during the Civil Rights Movement. Larkin retired from the U.S. Army in 1967 as a Lieutenant Colonel. He received special awards for his service, including the Legion of Merit and seven Army Commendation Medals.
Political Career and Public Service
After leaving the Army, Larkin worked as an assistant in the New York State Senate. He also served as the town supervisor for New Windsor. In 1978, he was elected to the New York State Assembly. He served in the Assembly from 1979 to 1990.
In 1990, he was elected to the State Senate. He won against the Democratic state senator E. Arthur Gray. Larkin was re-elected 13 more times, serving many two-year terms. In the Senate, he represented parts of Orange, Rockland, and Ulster Counties.
Larkin was well-known for supporting veterans. He helped create the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor in Orange County, New York, in 2006. He also worked to get the U.S. Postal Service to create a stamp showing the Purple Heart. He later pushed for it to become a "forever" stamp. In 2018, a bill he supported was signed into law. It renamed the Bear Mountain Bridge the Purple Heart Veterans Memorial Bridge. Larkin often shared stories from his life on the Senate floor.
He also sponsored a law that required all newborn babies to have a special test called Pulse Oximetry. This test helps check their heart and breathing.
In May 2018, when he was 90 years old, Larkin announced he would retire. He decided not to run for re-election. At that time, he was the only World War II veteran still serving in the New York State Legislature. Reports said he was one of only two World War II veterans still serving in any U.S. state legislature.
Personal Life
William Larkin lived in New Windsor, New York. He was married to Patricia Kurucz Larkin. He passed away on August 31, 2019. He was survived by his wife, their eight children, 17 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
