John Voelker
John Voelker
John Voelker was a Michigan author who wrote several books about his love of law and fly fishing. One of his most famous novels, Anatomy of a Murder, was based on a murder trial he won.
He defended Army lieutenant Coleman Peterson in 1952 and won the case. This became a turning point in his life.
Early Life and Education
John Voelker was born in Ishpeming, Michigan, on June 19, 1903. His father owned and operated a saloon. He grew up in a small town where the outdoors and fishing were a central part of his life.
He began his education at Ishpeming High School, but later went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from the Northern State Normal School in Marquette. He then earned his law degree at the University of Michigan and became a prosecutor in Marquette County.
He was a strong believer in the need for a good education. Toward the end of his life, he helped establish scholarships for Native Americans to attend law school. This was a tribute to his value of education and his respect for those who pursued it.
Professional Career
John Volcker has served in a variety of public and private positions throughout his life. He began his career at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York before moving to Chase Manhattan Bank.
He then went on to serve as the Undersecretary of Monetary Affairs for the United States Treasury Department. During this time, he was responsible for orchestrating the country’s plan to denounce the gold standard and devalue its currency.
After his time in the federal government, he joined Wolfensohn & Company, an investment banking firm, where he became head of the finance division. He forged a reputation for disinterested, professional management and was soon in charge of one of the most successful firms in Wall Street. His achievements were celebrated throughout the world and he received many honors and awards.
Achievements and Honors
A pioneer in the development of stimulated Raman scattering microscopy, he was a key figure in advancing the field of biophotonics. He also developed a broad range of optical products including lenses, medical-imaging instrumentation, laser optics and metrology systems.
He earned a number of awards for his contributions to the scientific community, such as the National Medal of Science and the American Philosophical Society’s Benjamin Franklin Award. He was also awarded the Gold Medal from the North of England Zoological Society for lifetime achievements in conservation-related research.
Volcker’s career focused largely on the economy, but he was also an outspoken advocate for public service. He twice headed a nonpartisan Commission on the Public Service that recommended sweeping changes in federal government’s organization and personnel practices.
Personal Life
John Voelker spent a great deal of time on the water near his home in Ishpeming, Michigan. He logged many miles fishing and hiking in the surrounding wilderness.
He wrote about his adventures in a series of memoirs and short stories. He also published a biography about his time as a prosecutor in Marquette County.
His best known book, Anatomy of a Murder, became a major commercial success. In 1955, he and my father formed a close friendship that would last for the rest of their lives.
He had a reputation for being an inflation buster, and was appointed Federal Reserve chairman under President Carter in 1979. He was renominated by Reagan in 1983 and served until 1987. He remained a prominent figure in public life.
Net Worth
Besides being an acclaimed author and a political activist, John Volker has also made millions of dollars in the private sector. He has a net worth of at least $11.7 million, according to SEC filings as of 18 December 2017.
His net worth is derived from his ownership of over 38,409 units of BorgWarner Inc stock and several large trades in the company’s stock. He also owns a stake in the Wessels/Holterman family-owned construction company Reggeborgh.
After leaving the Fed, Volcker returned to Wall Street and founded Wolfensohn Investment Banking, a firm that specialized in offering disinterested advice. He also served on public commissions that investigated the United Nations oil-for-food program in Iraq, World Bank corruption and Enron’s auditor, Arthur Andersen. He is best known for his crusade against banks that he deemed avaricious and fond of risk-taking at the public’s expense.