Jack King

Jack Elmo King
American [1920-1988]

NEW MOUNTS

Oil on canvas
18 x 24 ins.

Sold @ $ 7,290

Jack Elmo King was born on December 31, 1920 in Phoenix, Arizona. He went to high school and graduated from Glendale High School in Glendale, California. After high school he received a two year degree from Glendale Community College. His father had to dissolve his home construction business so Jack went to work for Douglas Aircraft in 1941. Jack and Margaret "Bunny" King were married in Los Angeles, California on January 16, 1941. Jack's entry position with Douglas Aircraft was that of a draftsman. Jack and "Bunny" had one son in 1943. He went into the U. S. Navy in April of 1944. After World War II, they bought an acre and a half tract near Redlands, California where Jack built an adobe house. Then after eighteen months, they sold the home so that he could attend the Los Angeles Art Center School. They accepted him on the GI Bill to the Los Angeles Art Center School in 1947 where he attended for two years. After submitting works with his application, the school placed him in the senior class because of his experience. He went to work for the Bendix Corporation as a draftsman. In 1949, he got a job in Dallas, Texas with per diem for a year as a draftsman with the Carter Engineering Group. He did not graduate from college but they were continually promoting him in mechanical engineering positions. They went to Wichita, Kansas where he worked for Olive Beech Aircraft as a draftsman again. At the end of his work day, Jack would then paint until midnight on freelance work for his own enjoyment. The King's moved back to West Covina, California in 1952. He went to work for Aerojet Aerospace Engineering as a draftsman and, or a mechanical/design engineer. He then worked in Tacoma, Washington until 1972. They again came back to California. Then they moved again to Idaho Falls again with Aerojet Aerospace for one year. Jack got sick with an ulcerated colon so they came back to California where he retired in 1970. Painting became a full time occupation after his retirement from Aerojet Aerospace Engineering. In 1980, he was approached to be marketed exclusively through an agent in Canada.