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William J. Larkin Jr.
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William J. Larkin Jr.
William J. Larkin Jr. (February 5, 1928 – August 31, 2019) was an American politician and retired U.S. Army officer from the state of New York.
Larkin was a decorated veteran of World War II and the Korean War. He fought in the Pacific theater in World War II and was later evacuated from the Korean War in 1951 for medical reasons. Larkin later helped protect President John F. Kennedy on a visit to Berlin and met Martin Luther King Jr. while escorting one of the Selma to Montgomery marches in Alabama during the Civil Rights Movement. He retired from the U.S. Army as a lieutenant colonel in 1967.
Following his retirement from the Army, Larkin served one term as New Windsor town supervisor. A Republican, Larkin later sat in the New York State Legislature for 40 years, representing various districts in the Hudson Valley. He was a member of the State Assembly between 1979 and 1990, representing first the 97th district and then the 95th district. He then sat in the State Senate from 1991 until his retirement in 2018, representing the 39th district. Known for his advocacy for veterans, Larkin helped to create the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor in Orange County in 2006. In 2018, a Larkin-sponsored bill renaming the Bear Mountain Bridge the Purple Heart Veterans Memorial Bridge was enacted.
Born on February 5, 1928 in Troy, New York, Larkin was raised by his aunt and uncle. He graduated from La Salle Institute in Troy and later attended the University of Maryland and University of Denver.
Believing himself to be 18 years of age, Larkin enlisted in the United States Army as a private in 1944 at age 16. (Larkin later stated that he did not learn until 1965 that his actual birth year was 1928, not 1926.)
Larkin fought in the Pacific theater in World War II and saw combat in the Philippines campaign. He subsequently entered officer candidate school and was sent to fight in the Korean War. Larkin led an all-black unit during a period when the Armed Forces remained segregated. He was evacuated from the Korean War in 1951 due to severe frostbite to his feet. When Larkin retired from politics in 2018, he was the last serving New York state legislator to have fought in World War II.
During his career in the Army, Larkin helped protect President John F. Kennedy on a visit to Berlin and met Martin Luther King Jr. when 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 also received the Legion of Merit and seven Army Commendation Medals.
Following his retirement from the Army, Larkin was hired as an executive assistant in the New York State Senate and served a term as New Windsor town supervisor before being elected to the New York State Assembly in 1978. Larkin served in the Assembly from 1979 to 1990. He was elected to the State Senate in 1990, defeating incumbent Democratic state senator E. Arthur Gray. Larkin would go on to win 13 more two-year State Senate terms. In the Senate, Larkin represented portions of Orange, Rockland, and Ulster Counties.
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William J. Larkin Jr.
William J. Larkin Jr. (February 5, 1928 – August 31, 2019) was an American politician and retired U.S. Army officer from the state of New York.
Larkin was a decorated veteran of World War II and the Korean War. He fought in the Pacific theater in World War II and was later evacuated from the Korean War in 1951 for medical reasons. Larkin later helped protect President John F. Kennedy on a visit to Berlin and met Martin Luther King Jr. while escorting one of the Selma to Montgomery marches in Alabama during the Civil Rights Movement. He retired from the U.S. Army as a lieutenant colonel in 1967.
Following his retirement from the Army, Larkin served one term as New Windsor town supervisor. A Republican, Larkin later sat in the New York State Legislature for 40 years, representing various districts in the Hudson Valley. He was a member of the State Assembly between 1979 and 1990, representing first the 97th district and then the 95th district. He then sat in the State Senate from 1991 until his retirement in 2018, representing the 39th district. Known for his advocacy for veterans, Larkin helped to create the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor in Orange County in 2006. In 2018, a Larkin-sponsored bill renaming the Bear Mountain Bridge the Purple Heart Veterans Memorial Bridge was enacted.
Born on February 5, 1928 in Troy, New York, Larkin was raised by his aunt and uncle. He graduated from La Salle Institute in Troy and later attended the University of Maryland and University of Denver.
Believing himself to be 18 years of age, Larkin enlisted in the United States Army as a private in 1944 at age 16. (Larkin later stated that he did not learn until 1965 that his actual birth year was 1928, not 1926.)
Larkin fought in the Pacific theater in World War II and saw combat in the Philippines campaign. He subsequently entered officer candidate school and was sent to fight in the Korean War. Larkin led an all-black unit during a period when the Armed Forces remained segregated. He was evacuated from the Korean War in 1951 due to severe frostbite to his feet. When Larkin retired from politics in 2018, he was the last serving New York state legislator to have fought in World War II.
During his career in the Army, Larkin helped protect President John F. Kennedy on a visit to Berlin and met Martin Luther King Jr. when 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 also received the Legion of Merit and seven Army Commendation Medals.
Following his retirement from the Army, Larkin was hired as an executive assistant in the New York State Senate and served a term as New Windsor town supervisor before being elected to the New York State Assembly in 1978. Larkin served in the Assembly from 1979 to 1990. He was elected to the State Senate in 1990, defeating incumbent Democratic state senator E. Arthur Gray. Larkin would go on to win 13 more two-year State Senate terms. In the Senate, Larkin represented portions of Orange, Rockland, and Ulster Counties.
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