Barber B. Conable, Jr. (born 1922), headed the most important lending institution committed to financing economic projects in developing countries, the World Bank, from 1986 to 1991. His tenure was noted for a complete overhaul of the bank and its personnel and a vital capital increase campaign. He piloted the bank through times of turbulent Third World debt defaults and restructuring.

Barber B. Conable, Jr., was born in Warsaw, New York, on November 2, 1922. After receiving his Bachelor's degree from Cornell in 1942, Conable joined the United States Marine Corps, serving out the end of World War II (1942-1946) and serving again during the Korean conflict (1950-1951), reaching the rank of colonel. He graduated with honors from Cornell's law school in 1948 and became a member of the New York State Bar that same year. Conable practiced law first in Buffalo (until 1950), then Batavia (until 1964). His career in the public sector began in the...