Robert Froehlke | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 10thUnited States Secretary of the Army | |
| In office July 1, 1971 – May 14, 1973 | |
| President | Richard Nixon |
| Preceded by | Stanley R. Resor |
| Succeeded by | Bo Callaway |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Robert Frederick Froehlke (1922-10-15)October 15, 1922 Neenah, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | February 12, 2016(2016-02-12) (aged 93) Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | University of Wisconsin, Madison(BA,LLB) |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1943–1946 |
| Rank | Captain |
Robert Frederick Froehlke (October 15, 1922 – February 12, 2016) was an American businessman, lawyer, and government official who served asSecretary of the Army from July 1971 until May 1973.[1]
Froehlke was born inNeenah, Wisconsin on October 15, 1922.[2] He graduated from high school inMarshfield, and attended theUniversity of Wisconsin from 1940 to 1943.[2] He joined theUnited States Army in 1943 serving at an Infantry Replacement Center in Europe, attaining the rank ofcaptain before being discharged in 1946.[2][3]
After the war Froehlke attended theUniversity of Wisconsin Law School. He graduated in 1949, was admitted to the bar, and practiced inMadison, Wisconsin with the firm of MacDonald and MacDonald.[2] He also served as a member of the faculty at the University of Wisconsin Law School.[4]
In 1951, Froehlke joined the legal department of theSentry Insurance Company and he later became an executive with the company. A longtime friend ofMelvin R. Laird, he managed Laird's congressional campaigns. When Laird becameSecretary of Defense, Froehlke was appointed Assistant Secretary of Defense for Administration.[2] He served until 1971 and during his tenure he was assigned responsibility for all Department of Defense intelligence resources and he was chairman of the Defense Investigative Review Council.[5][6][7]
Froehlke became Secretary of the Army in July 1971 and served until May 1973. Under his administration, the Army redeployed its last troops fromVietnam and converted from the draft to an all-volunteer force. In addition, Army administration of theRyukyu Islands was ended, and U.S. biological warfare facilities were closed in order to comply with international treaties and conventions.[8]
As Secretary of the Army, Froehlke also was responsible for the action changing from dishonorable to honorable the discharges of the African-American soldiers who had been falsely accused of crimes in the 1906Brownsville Affair.[9]
After resigning as Secretary of the Army, Froehlke returned to Sentry, serving as the company's president until 1976 when he left to become president of theHealth Insurance Association of America. He then became president of theAmerican Council of Life Insurers where he served until 1982, when he became chairman of theEquitable Life Assurance Society of the United States where he served until 1987 when he became president and chief executive officer of theIDS Mutual Fund Group.[10][11]
After his 1993 retirement Froehlke resided inMinneapolis, where he was active in raising funds for civic and charitable causes. He and then University of Wisconsin, Madison chancellorDonna Shalala co-chaired that school's first major fund drive.[12][13] He maintained a summer home inWaupaca, Wisconsin after relocating toScottsdale, Arizona.[14] Froehlke died in Scottsdale, Arizona on February 12, 2016.[2] Froehlke was buried atArlington National Cemetery.[15][16][17]
| Government offices | ||
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| Preceded by | United States Secretary of the Army July 1971 – May 1973 | Succeeded by |
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| National | |
