Jacques Littlefield
Encyclopedia
Jacques Littlefield founded the Military Vehicle Technology Foundation
(MVTF), also called the Littlefield Collection.
, several M4 Sherman tanks
and a SS-1 Scud
launcher. He had over 220 military vehicles to his name.
. He was the son of Edmund Wattis Littlefield
and Jeannik Méquet Littlefield. His father was CEO of Utah Construction Company
, his mother is a strong supporter of the arts and a member of the Chairman’s Council of the San Francisco Opera
.
He is survived by his wife, Sandy Montenegro Littlefield
, his mother Jeannik Méquet Littlefield, one brother, Ed Littlefield and one sister, Denise Sobel; five children, David, Scott, Allison, Jacques and Jeannik; and one grandson, Kingsley.
Littlefield's fascination with military vehicles started as a child, when he started building plastic model
s of them. In college he built his first remote control
scale model
tank. He obtained his first full size military vehicle in 1975; a WWII era M3 Scout Car
. In 1998 he set up the Military Vehicle Technology Foundation
to manage his collection of over 150 vehicles and to restore more.
He grew up in Burlingame
and attended Cate School
in Carpinteria, California before studying at Stanford University
where he received his Bachelor’s degree in 1971 and an MBA two years later. He worked for Hewlett Packard for five years as a manufacturing engineer
before focusing solely on building his museum and restoration facility.
Littlefield served on the boards of the General George Patton Museum, the Cate School, the Coyote Point Museum for Environmental Education, the Hoover Institution
, the California Academy of Sciences
, and the Filoli Center
. He was a member of the Bohemian Club
where he was a Captain of the Sempervirens
camp.
Following a decade long battle with colon cancer, Littlefield died on January 7, 2009.
Military Vehicle Technology Foundation
The Military Vehicle Technology Foundation is a large collection of military vehicles located in Portola Valley, California. It was founded by the late Jacques Littlefield, and now is under the direction of Bill Boller....
(MVTF), also called the Littlefield Collection.
Collection
Jacques Littlefield collected many vintage military vehicles including a Panther tankPanther tank
Panther is the common name of a medium tank fielded by Nazi Germany in World War II that served from mid-1943 to the end of the European war in 1945. It was intended as a counter to the T-34, and to replace the Panzer III and Panzer IV; while never replacing the latter, it served alongside it as...
, several M4 Sherman tanks
M4 Sherman
The M4 Sherman, formally Medium Tank, M4, was the primary tank used by the United States during World War II. Thousands were also distributed to the Allies, including the British Commonwealth and Soviet armies, via lend-lease...
and a SS-1 Scud
Scud
Scud is a series of tactical ballistic missiles developed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War, and exported widely to other countries. The term comes from the NATO reporting name SS-1 Scud which was attached to the missile by Western intelligence agencies...
launcher. He had over 220 military vehicles to his name.
Biography
Littlefield was born on November 21, 1949 in San Francisco, CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He was the son of Edmund Wattis Littlefield
Edmund Wattis Littlefield
Edmund Wattis Littlefield was a prominent California businessman, philanthropist, and member of the Bohemian Club.-Biography:Littlefield was the grandson of Edmund Orson Wattis, Jr, one of the founders of Utah Construction Company. Littlefield started his business career as a water boy for the...
and Jeannik Méquet Littlefield. His father was CEO of Utah Construction Company
Utah Construction Company
The Utah Construction Company was a construction company founded by Edmund Orson Wattis, Jr, Warren L. Wattis and William. H. Wattis in 1900.-History:...
, his mother is a strong supporter of the arts and a member of the Chairman’s Council of the San Francisco Opera
San Francisco Opera
San Francisco Opera is an American opera company, based in San Francisco, California.It was founded in 1923 by Gaetano Merola and is the second largest opera company in North America...
.
He is survived by his wife, Sandy Montenegro Littlefield
Sandy Montenegro Littlefield
Sandy Montenegro Littlefield is a Guatemala-born American businesswoman.-Biography:As former Director of Alliances with Siebel Systems, Sandy spearheaded the creation, structure and implementation of the Siebel Venture Capital Program, which provided Siebel with accelerated market penetration into...
, his mother Jeannik Méquet Littlefield, one brother, Ed Littlefield and one sister, Denise Sobel; five children, David, Scott, Allison, Jacques and Jeannik; and one grandson, Kingsley.
Littlefield's fascination with military vehicles started as a child, when he started building plastic model
Model military vehicle
-Scales:The term 'scale' refers to the proportion of actual size the replica or model represents. Scale is usually expressed as a ratio or as a fraction . In either case it conveys the notion that the replica or model is accurately scaled in all visible proportions from a full-size prototype object...
s of them. In college he built his first remote control
Remote control
A remote control is a component of an electronics device, most commonly a television set, used for operating the television device wirelessly from a short line-of-sight distance.The remote control is usually contracted to remote...
scale model
Scale model
A scale model is a physical model, a representation or copy of an object that is larger or smaller than the actual size of the object, which seeks to maintain the relative proportions of the physical size of the original object. Very often the scale model is used as a guide to making the object in...
tank. He obtained his first full size military vehicle in 1975; a WWII era M3 Scout Car
M3 Scout Car
The M3 Scout Car was an armored car in U.S. service during World War II. It was also known as the White Scout Car, after its manufacturer, the White Motor Company. It was used in various roles including patrol, scouting, command vehicle, ambulance and gun tractor.-History:Design of the vehicle...
. In 1998 he set up the Military Vehicle Technology Foundation
Military Vehicle Technology Foundation
The Military Vehicle Technology Foundation is a large collection of military vehicles located in Portola Valley, California. It was founded by the late Jacques Littlefield, and now is under the direction of Bill Boller....
to manage his collection of over 150 vehicles and to restore more.
He grew up in Burlingame
Burlingame
Burlingame may refer to:People*Anson Burlingame, 19th century American diplomat; a US-China treaty was named after him, along with towns in California and Kansas...
and attended Cate School
Cate School
The Cate School, established in 1910 by Curtis Wolsey Cate, is a four-year, coeducational, college-preparatory boarding school in Carpinteria, California, United States....
in Carpinteria, California before studying at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
where he received his Bachelor’s degree in 1971 and an MBA two years later. He worked for Hewlett Packard for five years as a manufacturing engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
before focusing solely on building his museum and restoration facility.
Littlefield served on the boards of the General George Patton Museum, the Cate School, the Coyote Point Museum for Environmental Education, the Hoover Institution
Hoover Institution
The Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace is a public policy think tank and library founded in 1919 by then future U.S. president, Herbert Hoover, an early alumnus of Stanford....
, the California Academy of Sciences
California Academy of Sciences
The California Academy of Sciences is among the largest museums of natural history in the world. The academy began in 1853 as a learned society and still carries out a large amount of original research, with exhibits and education becoming significant endeavors of the museum during the twentieth...
, and the Filoli Center
Filoli
Filoli is a country house set in of formal gardens surrounded by estate, located in Woodside, California, about 25 miles south of San Francisco, at the southern end of Crystal Springs Lake, on the eastern slope of the Santa Cruz Mountains....
. He was a member of the Bohemian Club
Bohemian Club
The Bohemian Club is a private men's club in San Francisco, California, United States.Its clubhouse is located at 624 Taylor Street in San Francisco...
where he was a Captain of the Sempervirens
Sempervirens
Sempervirens is the Latin word for evergreen.It is the name of an elm cultivar, Ulmus parvifolia 'Sempervirens', and is used in the scientific names of many evergreen plants, such as Cupressus sempervirens, Sequoia sempervirens and Acer sempervirens.There is also a Sempervirens Club, California's...
camp.
Following a decade long battle with colon cancer, Littlefield died on January 7, 2009.