Associated Press announces that Gordon to Head new Jobs Corps in Washington State, December, 1963

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Newly Created Job Corps Headed by Jack Gordon

[from Page 1 of the Ellensburg Daily Record, Monday, December 30, 1963]

OLYMPIA (AP) — Jack Gordon, well known Seattle public relations figure, has been appointed to the long vacant post of commissioner of employment security and will head a newly created "job corps."

The appointment and creation of the corps, which is designed to protect the state's economy from sudden cutbacks in defense spending by accelerating planned public works and private development, were announced by Gov. Rosellini Saturday.

"In many ways this group will be patterned after the 'boost the economy' project of the U. S. Department of Commerce," Rosellini said, "but we intend to make this a crash program now in view of the cutback at Boeing and temporary job needs elsewhere in the state.

The Defense Department has canceled the Boeing Co.'s Dyna-Soar space glider project, which was employing some 5,000 workers in the Seattle area.

King and Spokane counties will be pilot areas for the program, but corps headquarters are envisioned in every Washington community.

The governor said a committee headed by Donald W. Johnson and Joe Davis will coordinate corps activities and seek to enlist businessmen and labor and government officials from throughout the state. Johnson, 46, Longview, is president of the Association of Washington Industries. Davis, 49, a Seattle resident, is the Washington State Labor Council's president.

Gordon, 42, fills a post vacant since the death of Peter Giovine in 1959. Otto Johnson, who has been acting commissioner, will remain as deputy commissioner, Rosellini said.

Gordon is on leave of absence from his post as public relations director of Greater Seattle Inc., a civic promotion agency.

The governor said the corps will survey businesses and city and county agencies by letter to learn of planned projects that can provide new jobs by immediate activation.

The University of Washington and Washington State University will be asked to aid the corps by providing statistical and other information.

Community headquarters will be placed in the offices of existing job development enterprises, avoiding any large expenditures, the governor said.