Arthur Stanhope Barrows was the president of Sears from 1942 to 1946, and the first United States Under Secretary of the Air Force

United States Under Secretary of the Air Force

The Under Secretary of the Air Force is the second-highest ranking civilian official in the Department of the Air Force of the United States of America, serving directly under the Secretary of the Air Force...

, holding that office from 1947 to 1950.

Biography

Arthur S. Barrows was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts

Lawrence, Massachusetts

Lawrence is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States on the Merrimack River. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a total population of 76,377. Surrounding communities include Methuen to the north, Andover to the southwest, and North Andover to the southeast. It and Salem are...

 on August 22, 1884, the son of John Henry Barrows and Sarah Eleanor Mole. A protege of Robert E. Wood

Robert E. Wood

Robert Elkington Wood was a U.S. Army Brigadier General and businessman best known for his leadership of Sears, Roebuck and Company.- Early life :...

, he was president of Sears from 1942 to 1946. On September 25, 1947, President of the United States

President of the United States

The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....

 Harry Truman nominated Barrows to be the first United States Under Secretary of the Air Force

United States Under Secretary of the Air Force

The Under Secretary of the Air Force is the second-highest ranking civilian official in the Department of the Air Force of the United States of America, serving directly under the Secretary of the Air Force...

. He subsequently held this office from September 26, 1947 until April 21, 1950. He died on September 20, 1963, at the age of 79.