William Verity Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Verity
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| 27th United States Secretary of Commerce | |
| In office October 19, 1987 – January 30, 1989 |
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| President | Ronald Reagan George H. W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Malcolm Baldrige Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Robert Mosbacher |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Calvin William Verity Jr.
January 26, 1917 Middletown, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | January 3, 2007 (aged 89) Beaufort, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Peggy Wymond |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Yale University (BA) |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Calvin William Verity Jr. (January 26, 1917 – January 3, 2007) was an important American government official and a leader in the steel industry. He served as the 27th United States Secretary of Commerce from 1987 to 1989. He worked under President Ronald Reagan.
Early Life and Education
Calvin William Verity Jr. was born in Middletown, Ohio, on January 26, 1917. His parents were Calvin William Verity and Elizabeth O'Brien Verity.
When he was young, he attended Choate Rosemary Hall, a boarding school in Connecticut. There, he shared a room with John F. Kennedy, who later became a U.S. President. They became good friends.
He also went to Phillips Exeter Academy. After that, he studied economics at Yale University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Career Highlights
After college, Verity traveled around the world. He even worked as a maître d' at a fancy restaurant in New York City.
He served in the United States Navy during World War II, from 1942 to 1945.
For most of his career, Verity worked at Armco Steel. This company was started by his grandfather, George M. Verity. He began working there in 1940 and retired from Armco in 1982.
Serving as Secretary of Commerce
Before becoming Secretary of Commerce, Verity was involved in several important roles. From 1980 to 1981, he was the chairman of the United States Chamber of Commerce.
In 1981, he led a special group for President Reagan. This group focused on how private businesses could help solve public problems. He continued to advise on these efforts for several years.
From 1979 to 1984, he helped lead a council of American and Soviet business people. This group worked to improve trade between the two countries.
As the United States Secretary of Commerce, Verity created the Commerce Hall of Fame in 1988. This honored great employees in the department. He also started the Office of Space Commerce in 1988. This office was created to help support the National Space Council. It was an early step toward promoting businesses that use outer space.
Personal Life
Calvin William Verity Jr. was married to Margaret Wymond Verity, who was known as Peggy. They had three children: Peggy Verity Power, Jonathan George Verity, and William Wymond Verity.
He passed away on January 3, 2007, in Beaufort, South Carolina. He was 89 years old and died from complications of pneumonia. His wife, Peggy, had passed away earlier, in 1999. He is buried in Woodside Cemetery in Middletown, Ohio.
