Winford W. Barrow was born on January 6, 1923, at Schoolfield, Va., graduated from High School in Reidsville, N.C., in 1939, and with a four-year scholarship in athletics attended North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C., in 1941-42. While at North Carolina State, he served as President of the Freshman Class, was a member of the track, wrestling and football teams and was one of only twelve members of his class inducted into the National Engineering Honor Society.
He was graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, New London, Conn., with a commission of Ensign on June 6, 1945 and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering. While a cadet, he was a Company Commander in the Battalion organization, Class Vice President and a member of the football squad.
He served his first assignment as Gunnery Officer and as Watch Officer on board the destroyer escort USS Poole (DE-151) in the Pacific, participating in the post-World War II occupation of Japan. He next was assigned as Assistant Engineer on the Coast guard cutter Bibb (WPG-31) based at Boston, Mass., from June 1946, to September, 1947, and then served in the same capacity on board the cutter Cherokee out of Norfolk, Va.
From June to October, 1948, he served as Executive Officer of the Buoy Tender, USCGC Mistletoe, out of Portsmouth, Va., and for a following brief period as Gunnery Officer on the cutter Winnebago (WPG-40) out of Norfolk. From January, 1949, to November, 1950, he served as Assistant Chief, Search and Rescue Section at the Fifth Coast Guard District office in Norfolk.
In November, 1950, he was assigned as Marine Inspector (boilers) at the Coast Guard Marine Inspection Office, Baltimore, Md., where he remained for four and a half years. Reporting on board the cutter Spencer (WPG-36) at New York in June, 1955, her served as Engineer Officer and as Acting Executive Officer during the next two years.
Transferred next to Florida, he served first as Marine Inspector at the Marine Inspection Office at Jacksonville from May, 1957 to June, 1959, and then as Executive Officer and Senior Inspector (material) at the Marine Inspection Office at Tampa until May, 1963.
During his next tour of duty, he served first as Executive Officer and then as Commanding Officer of the cutter Duane (WPG-33) out of Boston on ocean station patrol and search and rescue. Reporting from sea duty at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C., in August, 1965, he served first as Assistant Chief, for two years, and then as Chief of Merchant Vessel Inspection Division for more than three years. For outstanding achievement as chief of the division, he was awarded the Coast Guard Commendation Medal. He was cited for his work in passenger ship fire safety development.
From February, 1971 to July, 1972, he was stationed again at Baltimore, Md., but in the triple role of Coast Guard Group Commander, Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard Station and as Captain of the Port of Baltimore.
From August, 1972, until April, 1974, Captain Barrow served as Chief of Operations Division in the Fifth Coast Guard District in Portsmouth, Va.
By nomination of the President on January 8, 1974, and confirmation of the Senate, Captain Barrow was appointed two-star flag rank as a Rear Admiral on April 22, 1974. This was followed by orders to assume command of the Eight Coast Guard District, effective May 23, 1974.
The following is a resume of Rear Admiral Barrow's appointments in rank: Cadet, June, 1942; Ensign, June 6, 1945; Lieutenant (j.g.), January 1, 1947; Lieutenant, August 6, 1951; Lieutenant Commander, July 1, 1956; Commander, July 1, 1963; Captain, July 1, 1967; Rear Admiral, April 22, 1974.
In addition to the Coast Guard commendation Medal, Rear Admiral Barrow has the following campaign medals and ribbons: American Area, Asiatic-Pacific Area, Occupation Medal (Japan), World War II Victory, and National Defense Service (Korean).
Admiral Barrow is an annual contributor of papers for the National Safety Congress. He is a former Chairman of the U.S. Delegation, Safety of Navigation Committee to the International Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO) for four years, and a former U.S. representative to the IMCO Ad Hoc Committee on the revision of SIMLA rules.
Admiral Barrow's wife is the former Elizabeth Perkins of Reidsville, N.C. They have three daughters, Mrs. (Elizabeth) Charles P. Write of Houston, Tex., Ruth Ellen and Mary Helen.
Admiral Barrow is the son of Mrs. Harrison F. Barrow who resides in Danville, Va.
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