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Curtis Tarr Obituary
Curtis Tarr died at his home in Walnut Creek, Calif., on Friday. His daughter, Pam Tarr, said Wednesday that her father died of pneumonia.
Tarr was appointed director of the Selective Service System in 1970, by President Richard Nixon.
Pam Tarr says her father wanted to eliminate an exemption for college students and make the draft more equitable. He instituted a lottery system based on birthdays that were picked on national television.
He later served as under secretary of state for security assistance, with responsibility for military programs with other nations.
Pam Tarr says her father probably would have described the lottery as his greatest responsibility, not his greatest achievement.
Copyright © 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
45 Entries
John Donaldson
August 20, 2015
So sorry to read of Curtis' passing. He was a remarkable man in every way. I will always remember fondly our visit with he and Kay in the summer of 2005. Curtis was so proud of his native state and after our tour it was understandable. He was a joy to talk to and visit with. Blessings to Kay and family, John & Lori Donaldson
Steele
December 26, 2013
The family and friends have my deepest sympathy. Mr. Tarr was trying to make things equal for all persons. We await the time when all men will truly be equal under the eyes of God. Until that time we appreciate persons like Mr. Tarr.
July 17, 2013
sorry to hear of your lost. My God bless.
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Nancy Culligan
July 4, 2013
My sincere condolences to the family. I worked at the Johnson School at Cornell when Curtis was Dean. He was a fantatic Dean and a wonderful human being. I am so sorry for your loss. My prayers are with all of you.
Regards,
Nancy Culligan
C Stone
July 2, 2013
May your memories of your family member give you strength in your loss. I did not know of Mr. Tarr, but am encouraged by his sense of responsibility and humanity as stated by others here. God's Blessings to his family and friends. May his humility be upheld by any who have undaunting tasks and jobs to do. May others who are so well educated learn from the example he lived and treat all as an equal. An admirer of a fine gentleman and American who served well. Rest well, faithful one.
JD Bertsch
July 2, 2013
My sincere condolences to the Tarr family. I was 18 in 1970 and just graduated from high school. My draft lottery number was 72 and I knew that I would be drafted. This spurred me to enlist in the Air Force. I served my country and went overseas to Germany. When my Air Force tour was over I was ready for college and had the proper motivation I probably would not have had in 1970. I earned two BA degrees and two Masters degrees and went back into the Air Force Reserve and served over 30 more years. I was fortunate to have had to make hard decisions at an early age but is has turned out very well. Thank you, Mr. Tarr!
July 2, 2013
So sorry for your loss. May the "Peace of God"(Phillipians4:6,7) be with you as you cope with such a loss. Draw close to God and he will draw close to you.
July 1, 2013
My condolences to the family. May the God who supplies endurance and comfort be with you in the days ahead-Romans 15:5. E.D; Park Forest, IL.
July 1, 2013
My condolences for your loss. God cares and will comfort you. 1 Pe. 5:7
Eric Julien
June 30, 2013
Your father was an amazing man. He gave us a personal tour of Lawrence University when he was president. My dad has such fond stories of him from their time at Stanford and after. It was nice to see him at my mother's funeral. What an amazing legacy he has left.
June 30, 2013
May the family cherish the fond memories of Curtiss to bring peace and comfort to there hearts.
June 29, 2013
IM SORRY FOR YOUR LOST. MAY YOUR FAMILY RELY ON GOD IN THIS TIME OF GRIEF.
steve grbic
June 29, 2013
the draft lottery was probable one of the fairest system espically the way tarr developed it I was # 34 in 1974 in the standbye lottery . and wasn't drafted but it was fair espically with the double draw
June 29, 2013
so sorry for the loss,may you be comforted by these words."Like a man whom his own mother keeps comforting,so I myself shall keep comforting you people."ish.66:13...nc
f e
June 29, 2013
May you draw comfort the bible offers at Isa.41:9,10,13.
Jeff Walker
June 29, 2013
Dr. Tarr was on the board of a non-profit I worked for in Savannah. In addition to his professional and educational accomplishments he was also an artist. He studied Shakespeare, did pen and ink drawings of his many travels, and was an accomplished writer. He was a true renaissance man.
f e
June 29, 2013
Draw strength from the holy bible isa.41:9,10,13.
June 29, 2013
You never were able to draft me!!!! Why? I enlisted in '63!!!!!!
June 28, 2013
May you be comforted by Almighty God. With sympathy
June 28, 2013
May the God of comfort be with the family. 2cor1:7
June 28, 2013
To Curtis Tarr, I never new who you where but I am thankful for your wisdom and foresight as to the lottery system of the draft. I was #38 and was drafted in 1971. The result of those events changed my life for ever and it was a positive change. I grew through my military experience in a ways I would most likely never would have. I truly thank you Sir. Gary Van Drew
June 28, 2013
Please accept my sincere condolences for your loss. It is my hope that our Heavenly Father gives you peace that excels all thought.
John Sanders
June 28, 2013
my birthday was July 9 1951 my lottery number was #1 , did not go, Rest in Peace.
Iona Toliver
June 28, 2013
I was reading the Courier Journal of Ky. and noticed the name Curtiss Tarr. So sorry to hear about the loss of your father.
My mother was a Tarr who was born in Indiana in 1902. It is a name that you do not see very often anymore.
Again we want to send our symapthy to you and your family.
Sincerely, Mr. & Mrs. Robert Toliver,
[email protected]
June 28, 2013
May you be comforted to know that the Creator cares and so do others. May you have peace during this time of your loss.
Sincerely,
June 28, 2013
My deepest sympathy to the family.
James Frederick
June 28, 2013
#112
Sally
June 27, 2013
2Corinhians 1:3,4. May the God of tender mercies comfort you during this time.
Chuck Coursey
June 27, 2013
I had the very great pleasure of becoming acquainted with Dr Tarr when he was living in Savannah, Ga where I work in the dealership where he serviced his car. I count as one of my most treasured possessions the personalized copy of "Private Soldier" he gave to me when he learned of my interest in the history of American armed forces in WWII. He was always so friendly, kind and respectful to me - I hold a bachelors degree in history and work in a car dealership and you know his resume, yet he always spoke with me as an equal.
We have lost a true gentleman and scholar; the likes of which, sadly, we see less and less.
June 27, 2013
Please accept my condolences during this time of grief.
June 27, 2013
May God's peace be with your family.-Romans15:33
June 27, 2013
Few people at the State department know that what began as the Undersecretary for Security Assistance (and now has morphed into a high falutin list of items, science, technology,etc.)and is designated as T, is so named for Curtis Tarr, who was the first such undersecretary and set the standards for export controls and FMS. He is undoubtedly the only guy at State that has ever had a bureau named after him. It is a fitting obituary for a capable man, even though very few people have a clue of its origins. John A. Shaw, Former Inspector General of Foreign Assistance at State.
June 27, 2013
My sincerest sympathies. Your father was a strong support for me in the Johnson School. I think of him often with fondness.
G.P. Zurenda
Tiffani
June 27, 2013
Sorry to hear of your loss. May you be given true comfort and peace of mind and heart from our Creator. Phil. 4:6,7
Phyllis and Ed McGuirk
June 27, 2013
My husband and I spent some time together on a cruise in 1989. We kept in touch for many years, and they were a wonderful couple. May they both rest in peace.
Ann Crowder
June 27, 2013
My sincere sympathy to the Tarr Family. Mr. Tarr worked very hard to make this world a better place. May your family trust in the God of Salvation, and he be refuge for you. Psalm 62:6,7
Dwayne Bickham
June 27, 2013
in God's care rest in peace
June 27, 2013
I am very sorry for your loss. May Mr. Tarr be safe in God's memory.
Eddie
June 27, 2013
My condolences to the Tarr family. May you seek comfort in prayer and in God's word. 1 Peter 5:6, 7
T.
June 27, 2013
God bless his soul. My sincerest, heartfelt sympathies to the family.
Dave Dietmeyer
June 26, 2013
My condolences on your loss, Pam. I was born in 1952 and in the 1971 lottery held in July my birthday of March 14 was #203. I had enlisted in January assuming I would get a low number and would be drafted anyway but they didn't get anywhere near #203. Oh well, it was a good experience anyway and I didn't have to go to Nam. May your father rest in peace.
Carmen
June 26, 2013
I would like to express my sympathies. I am truly sorry for your loss. John 5:28
hyde
June 26, 2013
To the family and friends of Mr. Tarr you have my deepest sympathy for the loss of your dear love one. Death is a common thing that we never adjust to. We can only rely upon our Creator to get us through this difficult time. May Mr. Tarr sleep in peace.
Scott Chamberland
June 26, 2013
Rest in Peace
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