Department of Finance Directors

Verne Orr was appointed Director of Finance by Governor Ronald Reagan on January 1, 1970. He was born on November 12, 1916. Orr graduated from Pomona College and received a master’s degree from Stanford University. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After the war, he was active in civic and cultural affairs in Pasadena. Orr was a trustee of Scripps College at Claremont, and a director of Huntington Memorial Hospital, Pasadena.

He was also active as an investment savings and loan executive. Orr was President of the Investors Savings and Loan Association of Pasadena from 1963 to 1966. He had earlier headed his own investment firm, and from 1946 to 1959, was a partner in an automobile business. In 1962, Orr served as Foreman of the Los Angeles County Grand Jury. In March 1967, he was appointed Director of Motor Vehicles and served in this capacity until his transfer to Director of General Services in December 1969, and came to Finance via his appointment in 1970.