Early Life, Education, and Early Career
Barrett is the oldest son of Thomas J. and Gertrude V. Barrett. His father was a World War II veteran who was presented the Distinguished Flying Cross award in 1944 for 30 missions over Germany as a navigator. His mother was a war widow when she met his father at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. They married and moved to Milwaukee where Barrett was born. He grew up on the city's west side.
Barrett graduated from Marquette University High School, and went on to earn his Bachelor of Arts in economics from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1976; and his Juris Doctor from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1980. He helped put himself through college and law school by working on the Harley-Davidson assembly line. After law school, Barrett served as a law clerk for Judge Robert W. Warren on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin from 1980 to 1982. He later entered into private practice and served as a bank examiner for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
Read more about this topic: Tom Barrett (politician)
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