Wayman I. McGarrh
Cite this Page
"Wayman I. McGarrh," White House Workers History Project, White House Historical Association, 2026, https://whha.whirlihost.com/Detail/workers/1038.
- Position
- Chauffeur
- Years in President's House
- circa 1945 – 1966
- Legal Status
- Free Person
- Gender
- Male
- Race/Ethnicity
- White
- Biography
- Wayman Irwin McGarrh was born on July 15, 1917, in Stewart, Mississippi. (1) He worked as a driver prior to enlisting in the U.S. Army during World War II; he also later served in the Korean War. (2) McGarrh was assigned to the White House Garage as a chauffeur with the Army Transportation Corps. He served presidents Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and Lyndon B. Johnson. According to his obituary: “He did advance work setting up presidential trips and also came to know many of the presidential family members in travel abroad and in the United States.” (3) By the time he retired in 1966, he had attained the rank of sergeant specialist, and earned both a Presidential Service Badge and a Good Conduct Medal. (4) Wayman McGarrh died on May 8, 1983, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. (5)
- (1) Wayman Irwin McGarrh, Virginia, U.S., Death Records, 1912-2014, Ancestry.com. Virginia, U.S., Death Records, 1912-2014 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015; “Wayman I. McGarrh,” The Winona Times (Winona, MS), June 23, 1983, pg. 15.
(2) Wayman I McGarrh, U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946, National Archives at College Park; College Park, Maryland, USA; Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, 1938-1946; NAID: 1263923; Record Group Title: Records of the National Archives and Records Administration, 1789-ca. 2007; Record Group: 64; Box Number: 08273; Reel: 249, Ancestry.com.
(3) “Wayman I. McGarrh,” The Winona Times (Winona, MS), June 23, 1983, pg. 15.
(4) Ibid.
(5) “Wayman I. McGarrh,” Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/49254055/wayman-i-mcgarrh. - Birthplace
- Stewart, Mississippi, USA