Marion B. Folsom

Marion Bayard Folsom (November 23, 1893 – September 27, 1976) was an American government official and businessman. He served as the U.S. Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare from 1955 to 1958 under President Dwight D. Eisenhower.[1]

Marion Folsom
2nd United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare
In office August 1, 1955 – July 31, 1958
President	Dwight D. Eisenhower
Preceded by	Oveta Culp Hobby
Succeeded by	Arthur Sherwood Flemming
Personal details
Born	November 23, 1893 McRae, Georgia, U.S.
Died	September 27, 1976 (aged 82) Rochester, New York, U.S.
Resting place	Arlington National Cemetery
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Mary Davenport
Children	3
Education	University of Georgia (BA) Harvard University (MBA)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Battles/wars	World War I

Biography

Folsom was born in McRae, Georgia. He was the son of William Bryant Folsom and Margaret Jane (née McRae). Folsom graduated from the University of Georgia, and he received a master's degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration.

In 1914, Folsom joined the Eastman Kodak Company. After serving with the Army in World War I, he returned to Kodak where he developed one of the nation's first private industry social security plans. Folsom married Mary Davenport, on November 16, 1918, with whom had three children, Jane McRae, Marion Bayard, Jr. and Frances Folsom.

He served as a captain in the U.S. Army during World War I and was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 1934, Folsom was appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as a member of an Advisory Council on Economic Security, which laid the foundation for the present Social Security program. He served from 1935 to 1953 as a Treasurer of the Eastman Kodak Company.

After resigning from Eastman Kodak, he became the Under Secretary of the Treasury from 1953 to 1955. He served as the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare with President Dwight D. Eisenhower from August 1, 1955, following the resignation of Oveta Culp Hobby, until July 31, 1958. Folsom commuted between his job as the treasurer for Eastman Kodak in Rochester, New York, and various Washington posts.

He died in Rochester, New York, on September 27, 1976. Folsom was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

References

1. Tomasson, Robert E. (29 September 1976). "Marion B. Folsom is Dead at 82; Architect of Social Security Act". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 June 2019.

External links

• Marion B. Folsom at Find a Grave