Henry Foss
Encyclopedia
Henry O. Foss was an elected official, businessman and civic leader in Tacoma, Washington
.
Henry Foss was one of four children born to Norwegian immigrant parents, Andrew and Thea Foss
, first owners and operators of Foss Launch and Tug Company
. He graduated from Tacoma (now Stadium) High School in 1911 and went to work for his parents in the family business. He graduated from Stanford University
in 1916.
Foss piloted newly built ships for launching during World War I
as the skipper of the tugboat, Foss-Berg. During World War II
, Foss was on active duty with the US Navy in naval intelligence. He served at the Naval Salvage School in New York, and became Deputy Fleet Salvage Officer with Commander Service Force South Pacific at Pearl Harbor
. He retired with the rank of Rear Admiral
and was awarded the Legion of Merit
and the Navy Marine Life Saving Medal.
From 1930-1934, he served as State Senator from the 26th District, was Pierce County
Republican Chairman from 1932–1934, and later served as commissioner for the Port of Tacoma
. He was director of Pacific National Bank of Washington and in 1962 was elected as the bank’s first Honorary Director, serving until he retired in 1971.
It is after his mother that the famed Tugboat Annie
series was written. Henry Foss High School
in Tacoma, Washington is named after him.
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
.
Henry Foss was one of four children born to Norwegian immigrant parents, Andrew and Thea Foss
Thea Foss
Thea Christiansen Foss was the founder of Foss Maritime, the largest tugboat company in the western United States...
, first owners and operators of Foss Launch and Tug Company
Foss Launch and Tug Company
Foss Launch and Tug Company was founded in 1889 by Thea Foss and her husband Andrew Foss. The company, now known as Foss Maritime, is now the largest tug and towing concern on the west coast of the United States.-Course of business:...
. He graduated from Tacoma (now Stadium) High School in 1911 and went to work for his parents in the family business. He graduated from 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...
in 1916.
Foss piloted newly built ships for launching during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
as the skipper of the tugboat, Foss-Berg. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Foss was on active duty with the US Navy in naval intelligence. He served at the Naval Salvage School in New York, and became Deputy Fleet Salvage Officer with Commander Service Force South Pacific at Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...
. He retired with the rank of Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
and was awarded the Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
and the Navy Marine Life Saving Medal.
From 1930-1934, he served as State Senator from the 26th District, was Pierce County
Pierce County, Washington
right|thumb|[[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]] - Seat of Pierce CountyPierce County is the second most populous county in the U.S. state of Washington. Formed out of Thurston County on December 22, 1852, by the legislature of Oregon Territory...
Republican Chairman from 1932–1934, and later served as commissioner for the Port of Tacoma
Port of Tacoma
The Port of Tacoma is an independent seaport located in Tacoma, Washington. The port was created by a vote of Pierce County citizens on November 5, 1918...
. He was director of Pacific National Bank of Washington and in 1962 was elected as the bank’s first Honorary Director, serving until he retired in 1971.
It is after his mother that the famed Tugboat Annie
Tugboat Annie
For the 1957 syndicated television series, see The Adventures of Tugboat Annie.Tugboat Annie is a 1933 movie starring Marie Dressler and Wallace Beery as a comically quarrelsome middle-aged couple who operate a tugboat...
series was written. Henry Foss High School
Henry Foss High School
Henry Foss High School is a high school in Tacoma, Washington. It opened in 1973. It is a part of the Tacoma Public School District. The school is named after Henry Foss, a civic leader and tugboat tycoon in Tacoma.-History:...
in Tacoma, Washington is named after him.
Other sources
- Stork, Mike Foss Maritime Company (WA) (Images of America) (Arcadia Publishing: 2007)