Erle Cocke Jr.

Erle Cocke, Jr.
Erle Cocke, Jr.
Born	Egbert Erle Cocke, Jr.; May 10, 1921; Dawson, Georgia
Died	April 23, 2000 (aged 74); Chevy Chase, Maryland
Cause of death	Pancreatic cancer
Resting place	Arlington National Cemetery; 38°52′42.0″N 77°04′07.2″W / 38.878333°N 77.068667°W
Alma mater	University of Georgia; Harvard University;
Occupation(s)	Farmer, businessman
Organization	American Legion
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Madelyn Grotnes
Parents	Erle Cocke, Sr.; Elise Meadows;
Military career
Allegiance	United States
Service / branch	United States Army; Georgia National Guard;
Rank	Major (active); Brigadier General (national guard)
Battles / wars	World War II
Awards	Silver Star Medal; Bronze Star Medal; Purple Heart (3 OLC); French Croix de Guerre; Combat Infantryman Badge;

Egbert Erle Cocke, Jr. (May 10, 1921 - April 23, 2000) was a decorated World War II veteran who served as the 33rd National Commander of The American Legion (1950-51).

Early life and education

A native of Dawson, Georgia,^[1] Cocke was the son of Egbert Erle Cocke, Sr. (1895-1977)^[2] and India Elise Meadows (1892-1982). E. E. Cocke, Jr. graduated from the University of Georgia (A.B., class of 1942), where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Literary Society. In 1947, he received an M.B.A. from Harvard University. In later years Cocke received a total of three honorary doctorates from various universities.

World War II

Cocke was commissioned in the U.S. Army in 1942 and served in World War II. Later in 1951, when President Harry S. Truman relieved General of the Army Douglas MacArthur of his duties during the Korean War, Cocke would voice his support of MacArthur.^[3] Awards received during World War II include the Silver Star, the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart with three oak leaf clusters, and Croix de guerre of France.

The American Legion

Cocke served as the 33rd National Commander of The American Legion from 1950 to 1951. At age 29, He became the youngest person to command the Legion, the U.S.' largest wartime veterans' organization.

Career

Cocke was a banking consultant and lobbyist who did considerable work in business management and public relations. He co-founded Cocke & Phillips International Corporation, a banking consulting and lobbying firm founded in Washington, D.C. After serving as an aide to Secretary of State George Marshall and Secretary of Defense Robert A. Lovett, he was appointed a U.S. delegate to the United Nations General Assembly by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1959. Cocke held a position in the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development during the administrations of Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. In 1964 and 1966, Cocke ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination for a seat in the United States House of Representatives to represent Georgia's 3rd congressional district.

Personal life and death

Cocke married Madelyn Grotnes (1924-2001) on June 13, 1955 in Chicago. She had been a private secretary to Senator Joseph McCarthy. The couple had three daughters - Elise Carol Cocke, Jennifer Aline Cocke (Mrs. Gregg Carpenter), and Carolyn Laurine Cocke (Mrs. Jeffrey M. Whitsett) - and a son (Egbert Erle Cocke, III), who died. Both Cocke and his wife Madelyn are buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

References

^ "Erle Cocke, Jr". Arlington Cemetery.net. Retrieved 2011-01-27.
^ Egbert Erle Cocke, Sr. (June 26, 1895 - October 7, 1977) - Served as a National Vice Commander of The American Legion (Oct. 20, 1922 - Oct. 18, 1923). He was the original Secretary/Treasurer of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (1932-1933). In the 1940s he was President of the Fulton National Bank of Atlanta, and he was also a member of the Board of Trustees of the CED (Committee for Economic Development, 444 Madison Ave., New York 22, NY), a non-profit organization incorporated in September 1942. In the mid-1950s he was President of the American Bankers Association. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) (August 5, 1957 - January 19, 1961), and on Jan. 20, 1961 he became Chairman of the Board of Directors of the FDIC (January 20, 1961 - August 4, 1963). He married India Elise Meadows (October 14, 1892 - March 1982) on Dec. 9, 1917 in Lowndes County, Alabama. Besides their son (1921-2000), they also had a daughter named Aline Huff Cocke (born 1919), who married Eugene Park Cofield, Jr. on Jan. 31, 1942 in Atlanta, Georgia.
^ "Erle Cocke Jr., 78, War Hero Who Led American Legion". The New York Times. April 26, 2000. Retrieved 2011-01-27.

External links

Erle Cocke Jr. at Find a Grave

Non-profit organization positions
Preceded by George N. Craig	National Commander of The American Legion 1950–1951	Succeeded by Donald R. Wilson

[1] "Erle Cocke, Jr". Arlington Cemetery.net. Retrieved 2011-01-27.

[2] Egbert Erle Cocke, Sr. (June 26, 1895 - October 7, 1977) - Served as a National Vice Commander of The American Legion (Oct. 20, 1922 - Oct. 18, 1923). He was the original Secretary/Treasurer of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (1932-1933). In the 1940s he was President of the Fulton National Bank of Atlanta, and he was also a member of the Board of Trustees of the CED (Committee for Economic Development, 444 Madison Ave., New York 22, NY), a non-profit organization incorporated in September 1942. In the mid-1950s he was President of the American Bankers Association. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) (August 5, 1957 - January 19, 1961), and on Jan. 20, 1961 he became Chairman of the Board of Directors of the FDIC (January 20, 1961 - August 4, 1963). He married India Elise Meadows (October 14, 1892 - March 1982) on Dec. 9, 1917 in Lowndes County, Alabama. Besides their son (1921-2000), they also had a daughter named Aline Huff Cocke (born 1919), who married Eugene Park Cofield, Jr. on Jan. 31, 1942 in Atlanta, Georgia.

[3] "Erle Cocke Jr., 78, War Hero Who Led American Legion". The New York Times. April 26, 2000. Retrieved 2011-01-27.

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