Julius Albert Krug

Julius Krug (1907–1970) worked in utilities for his home state of Wisconsin and then for Kentucky as a public utility expert with the Federal Communications Commission, prior to joining the Tennessee Valley Authority as chief power engineer. During World War II, he left a top position on the War Production Board (WPB) to serve in the Navy but was called back to chair the WPB. With his appointment to Truman's Cabinet after the war, Krug became the first career public administrator to head the Department of the Interior. The Bureau of Land Management was founded in 1946 at the start of Krug's tenure, combining the previous Interior functions of the General Land Office and the Grazing Service. Secretary Krug favored decentralization and established a field committee pattern to help coordinate Interior's activities, minimizing the overlap and duplication of programs. Krug resigned in 1949 and returned to private life. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Greta Kempton (1903–1991) is the only female artist to have painted a secretary of the Interior's portrait. She was friends with President Truman and received portrait commissions from many members of Truman's Cabinet.