Westbrook, Lawrence, 1889-1964

Colonel Lawrence Westbrook was a Texan politician and official in the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Colonel Westbrook also served as a member of the Texas Legislature representing Waco, Texas. During World War I he attained the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Army Signal Corps. During World War II Colonel Westbrook returned to active duty and was wartime president of the United States Purchasing Board in the South Pacific theater. During Colonel Westbrook's experience as a Texas public official he became convinced of the benefits of cooperative enterprises. In quick succession, he was promoted to Assistant Federal Emergency Relief Administrator in the Rural Rehabilitation Division, and then to First Assistant Work Projects (WPA) Administrator Harry L. Hopkins. In 1934, Colonel Westbrook joined the Federal Emergency Relief Administration. (Source: Wikipedia)