William J. Larkin Jr. (February 5, 1928[1] – August 31, 2019) was an American politician and retired U.S. Army officer from the state of New York.

A Republican, Larkin sat in the New York State Legislature for 40 years, representing various districts in the Hudson Valley.

)[4] Larkin fought in the Pacific theater in World War II and saw combat in the Philippines campaign.

[2] When Larkin retired from politics in 2018, he was the last serving New York state legislator to have fought in World War II.

[5] During his career in the Army, Larkin helped protect President John F. Kennedy on a visit to Berlin and met Martin Luther King Jr. when escorting one of the Selma to Montgomery marches in Alabama during the Civil Rights Movement.

[2] Known for his advocacy for veterans, Larkin helped to create the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor in Orange County, New York in 2006.

[12] According to the Albany Times Union, Larkin "often shared anecdotes from his life experiences on the Senate floor".

At the time of his announcement, Larkin was the only World War II veteran remaining in the New York State Legislature.