Warren Atherton

Warren Atherton (born Warren Hendry Atherton; December 28, 1891 – March 7, 1976) was an American lawyer who served as the 26th National Commander of The American Legion from 1943 to 1944. He is widely recognized as a designer of the G.I. Bill, officially known as the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944.

Born in San Francisco, California, Atherton had no formal higher education. Nonetheless, at age 20, he went to work for the Stockton law office of H. R. McNoble in 1911. He served under General Pershing in France during World War I. Upon his return, he married Ann Holt, daughter of the founder of Caterpillar Inc. Benjamin Holt. He was admitted to the California State Bar in 1913, and began his career as an attorney, eventually gaining notoriety as a Stockton City judge and local president of the Chamber of Commerce. He also worked as the general counsel for the California Department of Veterans Affairs and its preceding boards and commissions from 1935 to 1960. He was consultant to the Secretary of War and envoy to Nelson Rockefeller, Coordinator of International Affairs.

In 1943, as National Commander, Atherton joined Francis Sullivan in drafting the G.I. Bill, suggesting one bill be written that would consolidate the best features of many veteran bills then before Congress.

Atherton was a California Republican, and eventually served as delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1944, 1948, 1952. He also served on the California Board of Prison Terms and Paroles (1935–1937) and ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate (1957). He died in 1976 and was buried from Morris Chapel at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, where his papers are housed today.