World War II Honoree

R. A. Perry

Hometown

Stillwater, Payne County, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

A LOCAL BUSINESSMAN, HE SERVED, WITHOUT COMPENSATION, AS A MEMBER OF THE STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA RATION BOARD DURING THE WAR. THE OFFICE OF PRICE ADMINISTRATION (OPA) WAS A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY THAT CONTROLLED AND STABILIZED PRICES OF GOODS, SERVICES, AND RESIDENTIAL RENTS, AND HAD RATIONING POWERS DURING THE WAR. THE OPA ALSO FIRST COINED THE PHRASE ‘PRICE FREEZE.’ THE VAST OPA BUREAUCRACY INCLUDED SOME 63,000 PAID WORKERS, SUPPLEMENTED BY SOME 235,000 VOLUNTEERS WORKING ON LOCAL PRICE AND RATIONING BOARDS. THESE ‘GRASS-ROOTS’ UNITS OF THE OPA HANDLED MOST LOCAL MATTERS INCLUDING SETTING, MONITORING AND ENFORCING PRICE AND RENT POLICIES AND CONTROLS; REGISTERING CONSUMERS AND ISSUING RATION BOOKS, AND ADMINISTERING THE RATIONING PROCESS; AND RESOLVING PRICE AND RATIONING DISPUTES. HIS BOARD ALSO GRANTED EXEMPTIONS FOR CERTAIN GOODS, ATTEMPTED TO CURB ILLEGAL ‘BLACK MARKET’ TRANSACTIONS, AND ISSUED WARNINGS OR CHARGED VIOLATORS FOR NONCOMPLIANCE.