My dad, who recently passed away, worked at the IRS for 35 years, providing a solid income for us to live in the 'burbs. The job provided a good retirement and medical benefits, too.

I wish I had found this site before he became very ill--many of these photos likely would have sparked even more interesting stories.

He grew up in Silver Spring, attended Bullis, U of M and Georgetown, so he was a witness to the growth of the D.C. metro area for 58 years!

He does look like he'd make a great Count Dracula, but that tombstone-like cornerstone probably has something to do with it. I almost wonder if the photographer had that in mind, the obvious comparison to the IRS is certainly not new!

Far from "getting blood from a turnip" Mellon reduced the top income tax rate from 77% to 25%, and reduced taxes on the lower income groups. The reduction of the top rate was based on the notion that the higher the rate the more likely people were to try to avoid paying their income taxes. Worked too. Ironically, just before he left office as Secretary of the Treasury in 1932 the Justice Department started an investigation of his tax returns. He was exonerated.

Whoa! He gives me the chills just looking at him. Don't think he'd care much for our new "kinder, gentler" IRS. And yes, I think he could get blood out of a turnip.