Nomination of Harry N. Walters To Be Administrator of Veterans Affairs

The President today announced his intention to nominate Harry N. Walters to be Administrator of Veterans Affairs. He would succeed Robert P. Nimmo.

Mr. Walters has been serving as Assistant Secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs), Department of Defense, since June 1981. Mr. Walters was president and chief executive officer of Potsdam Paper Corp. in Potsdam, N.Y., in 1977-1981; management consultant, Howard Paper Mills, Inc., Dayton, Ohio; in 1976-1977; executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Standard Paper Manufacturing Co., Richmond, Va., in 1975-1976; national sales and marketing manager, Plainwell Paper Co., in 1971-1973; and accounts manager for publication papers, Kimberly Clark Corp., in 1969-1971.

He graduated from the United States Military Academy, West Point, N.Y. (B.S., 1959), where he was fullback on the last undefeated Army football team and received honorable mention, All-American honors. He served in the United States Army from 1959 to 1962. From 1960 to 1962, he served in Hawaii and Thailand with the First Battle Group, 35th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division. He then served in the U.S. Army Reserves from November 1962 to April 1968. In 1963-1964 he served in the U.S. Army Reserves Special Forces. The remainder of his tenure in the Army Reserves was spent in Ready Reserves.

He is married, has two children, and resides in McLean, Va. He was born July 4, 1936.