Barnstable County MA Archives Biographies.....Sears, Jr, Maj. Gen. Leslie Ray January 18, 1928 - April 5, 1985 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ma/mafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Leslie R Sears III lrsears@cox.net March 11, 2006, 12:14 pm Author: Ray Sears Official US Army Biography - General Sears was born in S. Weymouth, MA. He served with the US Navy as an electronic technician on the aircraft carrier, USS Boxer out of Treasure Island, San Francisco Bay, during 1946-48 and upon his discharge attended Boston University where he received hisBachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1950. General Sears entered the Army in 1951 and was assigned as radar officer, 685th Anti -Aircraft Artillery Gun Battalion, Camp Edwards, Cape Cod, MA. After serving three years in Germany with US Army, Europe, as an anti-aircraft artillery platoon leader and assistant finance oficer, he attended the Finance Officer's Basic Course, Ft Benjamin Harrison, IN. Upon graduation he was assigned as Finance and Accounting Officer, Springfield Armory, MA. Two years later he became a student at the Harvard Business School, Boston, and in 1960 received his Master's degree in Business Administration. He graduated first in his class and was offered an assignment in Washington, DC by the Chief of Finanace. He was subsequently assigned as an automatic data processing systems staff officer, Office, Chief of Finance, Washington, DC. He was a key individual in the development of the computerized payroll system-Joint Uniform Military Pay System (JUMPS). In 1963-64 General Sears attended the Command and General Staff College, Ft Leavenworth, KA. After graduation he was ordered to Vietnam where he became Chief, Management Section, Office of the Comptroller, US Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV). Returning to the United States, General Sears served as a member of the Department of the Army Board of Inquiry on Army Logistics Systems (Brown Board) from Jul 1965 until April 1967 at which time he was designated Chief, Cost Research Division, Office of the Comptroller of the Army. He was subsequently named Chief, US Army Field Operation Cost Agency. After graduating from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in 1969 he became Military Assistant and Executive Officer, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Management). He became Assistant Director of the Army Budget in July 1971. General Sears was designated Comptroller, Headquarters, US Army Materiel Command, Washington, DC, on 1 Dec 1972. Citations and Decorations- Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters Bronze Star Medal Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster Boston Herald article- Oct 20, 1941 Les was a Life scout. Boy Scouts at Jamboree at East Weymouth. Richard Park, Charles A Jordan Jr., Kenneth Park, Dexter Dyment, Leslie Sears, Edward Frederickson, members Troop 9,Old Colony Council, E Weymouth, MA. Nearly 100 Boy Scouts from troops in 23 cities and towns of Norfolk and Plymouth counties closed their annual two-day fall camporee yesterday with an exhibition of scouting craftsmanship before 350 onlookers at the Clapp memorial field in E Weymouth. !DEATH: OBITUARY: - St Petersburg Times - Leslie R Sears, Jr., 57, of Treasure Island, FL died Friday (April 5, 1985) at home. Born in S Weymouth, MA, he came here in 1977 from Arlington, VA and retired as a Major General from the Army in 1976. He graduated from Boston University in 1950 and enlisted in the Army in 1951 as a Lieutenant. He graduated from Harvard Business School in 1960 with his Master's degree and was designated a Baker Scholar for his high academic achievement. He held many finance and budget positions in Europe and the Far East and served on the Department of the Army General Staff. He served as comptroller of the Army Materiel Development and Readiness Command in Washington, DC until his retirement after 30 years active service. Locally he was a realtor and appraiser/consultant with several realty firms. He was past commodore of the Bath Yacht Club, past president of Isle of Palms Civic Association and member of Pasadena Community Church, where he was a member of the Chancel Choir. Survivors include his wife Claire; a son Leslie Ray Sears III, Duncan, OK; two daughters, Marilyn Sager, St Petersburg, and Pamela Cooper, Kittery, ME; a sister Sabra Martin, S Yarmouth, MA, and one granddaughter. Lewis Mohn Funeral Home, Seminole. Burial to take place at Bourne National Cemetery, Cape Cod, MA. Major General Les Sears was lovingly described as the humble general at his funeral. He would never use rank or authority to influence a situation but would rather gain the respect of others through an engaging smile and well established knowledge as an expert in any field he chose to study. He was a loving father and husband and his children are very proud of his accomplishments. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ma/barnstable/bios/searsjr38gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mafiles/ File size: 5.3 Kb