Walter O'Meara
Encyclopedia
Walter O’Meara was an American
author
born in Minneapolis, Minnesota
.
, graduating from Cloquet High School in 1914. O’Meara started his college education at the University of Minnesota before taking a leave of absence to serve in the US Army in World War I. Upon his return, he completed his studies in journalism at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
, graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 1920.
. Following his time with the newspaper, he moved to Chicago to work for the advertising agency J. Walter Thompson
. In 1932 he relocated to New York to work for the advertising agency Benton & Bowles
, but in 1942 rejoined J. Walter Thompson, at their New York office.
O’Meara went on to act as the Chief of Planning for the Office of Strategic Services
, as well as the head of the information department of the Office of Price Administration
, during World War II. In 1950, following World War II, O’Meara decided to pursue a career in writing. Over the span of his career, he saw a number of magazine article published, in addition to 16 books. Two of these books, Minnesota Gothic and Grand Portage, were best-sellers.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
born in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
.
Early life
O'Meara spent his childhood in Cloquet, MinnesotaCloquet, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,201 people, 4,636 households, and 2,967 families residing in the city. The population density was 317.9 people per square mile . There were 4,805 housing units at an average density of 136.4 per square mile...
, graduating from Cloquet High School in 1914. O’Meara started his college education at the University of Minnesota before taking a leave of absence to serve in the US Army in World War I. Upon his return, he completed his studies in journalism at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
, graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 1920.
Career
O’Meara stayed on in Minnesota for several years, writing for the Duluth News TribuneDuluth News Tribune
The Duluth News Tribune is a newspaper in Duluth, Minnesota. It is published by Forum Communications, which bought it in 2006 after The McClatchy Company acquired the News Tribunes previous owner, Knight Ridder.The present incarnation of the newspaper is the outcome of the merger and takeover of...
. Following his time with the newspaper, he moved to Chicago to work for the advertising agency J. Walter Thompson
JWT
JWT is one of the largest advertising agencies in the United States and the fourth-largest in the world. It is one of the key companies of Sir Martin Sorrell's WPP Group and is headquartered in New York. The global agency is led by Worldwide Chairman and Global CEO Bob Jeffrey who took over the...
. In 1932 he relocated to New York to work for the advertising agency Benton & Bowles
Benton & Bowles
Benton & Bowles was a New York-based advertising agency founded by William Benton and Chester Bowles in 1929.-History:The agency's success was closely related to the rise in popularity of radio. Benton & Bowles invented the radio soap opera to promote their clients' products, and by 1936 were...
, but in 1942 rejoined J. Walter Thompson, at their New York office.
O’Meara went on to act as the Chief of Planning for the Office of Strategic Services
Office of Strategic Services
The Office of Strategic Services was a United States intelligence agency formed during World War II. It was the wartime intelligence agency, and it was a predecessor of the Central Intelligence Agency...
, as well as the head of the information department of the Office of Price Administration
Office of Price Administration
The Office of Price Administration was established within the Office for Emergency Management of the United States government by Executive Order 8875 on August 28, 1941. The functions of the OPA was originally to control money and rents after the outbreak of World War II.President Franklin D...
, during World War II. In 1950, following World War II, O’Meara decided to pursue a career in writing. Over the span of his career, he saw a number of magazine article published, in addition to 16 books. Two of these books, Minnesota Gothic and Grand Portage, were best-sellers.
Personal life
O’Meara was married in 1922 to Esther Arnold, with whom he had four children: Donn, Ellen, Deirdre,and Wolfe. They lived in several places including Washington Mews, NYC; Woodstock, NY; and Danbury, CT. He died in Massachusetts in 1989, at the age of 92.Additional Resources
- The Walter O'Meara Papers are available for research use at the Minnesota Historical Society.