Biography

Donald R. Griffin

Donald R. Griffin

The John Birch Society

Born in Sardis, Mississippi; Donald. R. Griffin was raised in St. Louis, Missouri. After high school he joined the Missouri Air National Guard and activated into the United States Air Force gaining the rank of Technical Sergeant during the Korean War. He attained crew chief on the famous Mustang P-51 and later became Flight Engineer on the B-26 Marauder.

After his military career, he went through the ranks of Mortgage Officer to Executive Vice President for St. Louis, Missouri and Dallas, Texas banks. Don retired from his ownership of Griffin Financial Corporation to become active in political affairs as Executive Vice President of Missouri Republican Assembly and delegate to the National Presidential Convention.

He also hosted a daily talk radio show for years in St. Louis that featured many JBS members and other patriots. He and his loving wife Joann have two children and two grandchildren.

Significant Figures

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John F. McManus
John F. McManus
John F. McManus joined the staff of The John Birch Society in August 1966, serving originally as a field coordinator for several New England states. In 1968, he was transferred to a position at the Society’s national headquarters. In 1973, Mr. McManus accepted the appointment by Robert Welch, the Society’s Founder, as the organization’s Director ...
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Taylor Caldwell
Taylor Caldwell
Many people in the English-speaking world from the Baby Boomer or earlier generations remember Taylor Caldwell as the author of numerous outstanding novels, among them A Pillar of Iron, Dear and Glorious Physician, and The Captains and the Kings. Even many who never read her fascinating published works may also recall the latter historical novel, ...
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William Grede
William Grede
Born in 1897 and raised in Milwaukee, Bill Grede went to work at his father’s carriage shop during summers when he was 14. He later worked at Uncle Art’s tire store. The experiences he gained at both taught him two very important lessons: 1) always provide quality products and service; and 2) there is profit ...
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Augereau G. Heinsohn
Augereau G. Heinsohn
Augereau G. Heinsohn was born in 1896 and lived near Houston. After his service in World War I, Heinsohn returned home and got a job at a cotton goods commission house in New York City, a brokerage firm that acted as an intermediary between the textile mills of the South and the garment industry in ...
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Nelson Bunker Hunt
Nelson Bunker Hunt
Nelson Bunker Hunt of Texas served as a member of the Council of The John Birch Society from 1976 to 1985 and then from 2007 until his passing. Mr. Hunt was born in El Dorado, Arkansas. His family moved to Tyler, Texas, during his youth, and finally to Dallas. After graduating from the Hill School, ...
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Garman Kimmell
Garman Kimmell
Garman Kimmell grew up in Wichita, Kansas, in the early 20th century, where his father had moved to pursue his business dealings. Kimmell attended Wichita State University for two years before transferring to the University of Oklahoma because of its strong engineering program. Kimmell graduated in 1937 with a Master of Science degree in Petroleum ...
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Fred Koch
Fred Koch
Born in 1900 the son of a Dutch immigrant from Quanah, Texas, Fred Koch graduated from MIT in 1922 with a chemical engineering degree. He was first employed by the Texas Company in Port Arthur, Texas, and then by the Medway Oil and Storage Company in Kent, England, where he was chief engineer. Only three ...
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