Robert Lankford, Jr., is a son of Robert Preston and Willie (Smith) Lankford, both of whom were born at Staunton, Virginia, descendants of early colonial families of that state. Robert Lankford, Sr. was in business for himself as a merchandise broker in Staunton. His father was a Confederate soldier in the Civil War. Mrs. Robert Lankford, Sr. is entitled to claim direct descent from Captain John Smith, the leader of the Jamestown, Virginia, CoIony, on the Smith side of her family line, according to a published genealogy which traces this line.

Robert Lankford, Jr., attended his local schools and studied Electrical Engineering at Virginia Polytechnic Institute where he was in the Class of 1911. Since completing his education he has followed his chosen profession of electrical engineering and has worked for various companies, giving him a varied and diversified experience. Among the companies by which he has been employed are the U. S. Government Department of Highways, where he was engaged during 1920 on highway construction at the Panama Canal Zone, the General Electric Company at Erie, Pennsylvania, the Square D Company of Detroit, Michigan, and the Bull Dog Electric Products of Detroit, where for the past six years he has been a field engineer. It was during his employment at the General Electric Company that he met Miss Zillah Cass.

Robert Lankford, Jr., enlisted in the United States Army in Cleveland, Ohio, during the trouble with Mexico in 1916, saw service at the Mexican border and remained in the service to be a member of the American Expeditionary Force in World War I, serving for 13 months overseas with the 112th Engineer Train of the 37th Division. He saw service on several sectors including the Baccarette, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, Scheldt River and the Singum sector. He went through Belgium and was with the Army of Occupation. He advanced from the rank of private to that of First Lieutenant before being honorably discharged in 1919.

Robert Lankford, Jr. is a Mason, being a Knight Templar, a member of the Shrine and of the Consistory. He is also a member of the B. P. O. E. and of the American Legion. Mr. and Mrs. Lankford live in Saginaw, Michigan, and are busily engaged this summer in working on plans for their cottage north of Saginaw.

Mrs. Robert Lankford, Jr. graduated from Erie Central High School in 1912, where she finished the business course and later attended the Davis Shorthand and Business College, where she completed the business course. She worked for the Remington Typewriter Company for four and a half years as a stenographer and for seven and a half years as a stenographer for the Telegraph and Passenger Trainmaster Departments of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company at Erie, Pennsylvania, before her marriage. She is a member of the Eastern Star, the King's Daughters and of the Knights Templar Auxiliary.

HOME........ Return to Outline Index