Government Computer Expert Irving Luckom, 87

Irving Luckom, 87, who did seminal work in developing automated data processing and data communications for government agencies, died of cancer June 26 at his home in Lake Worth, Fla.

Mr. Luckom's first major experience in the new field of machine records came during his Army service in World War II, while in the Philippines and then in Japan. The War Department had begun increasing its use of punch cards, key punch machines and other data processing methods to keep track of personnel and equipment.

In his career from the 1940s to 1980s, Mr. Luckom contributed to the first computerized U.S. Census, in 1950, and to significant communications and control systems for U.S. military defense and defense intelligence.

"He was manager of several projects in the data processing field and a lot that we didn't know," given the nature of some of the agencies he worked with, said his daughter, Jane Jacobs.

A native of New York, Mr. Luckom graduated from Baruch College in 1940 and received a master's degree in statistics from Columbia University in 1942.

He served in the Army from 1942 to 1946. He served in the Pacific as chief of the Reports and Graphic Analysis Branch in the General Headquarters of Army Forces. His decorations included the Bronze Star.

After the war, Mr. Luckom worked at the Veterans Administration office in New York and at the Census Bureau in Suitland when the first mainframe computer was being used. He helped computerize records at the U.S. Air Force Finance Center in Denver from 1951 to 1957 and was with the Defense Department at the Pentagon from 1957 to 1958.

As the military began to rely more on computers, Mr. Luckom joined IBM in Kingston, N.Y. By 1960, he was working with IBM's Federal Systems Division in Bethesda and Gaithersburg, and from 1972 to 1977 in Washington. He was with the Defense Intelligence Agency in the Washington area from 1978 to 1982, when he retired. He then was a consultant and adviser to the agency until 1985.

His honors included an Air Force Meritorious Service Award in 1957 for his civilian service and accomplishments in the Air Force Finance Center and an Outstanding Contribution Award from IBM in 1976 for his management in developing operational aspects of the World Wide Military Command and Control System architecture. He also received the Defense Intelligence Agency's National Intelligence Medal of Achievement for Exceptional Service in 1982.

Mr. Luckom lived in Bethesda and Washington for most of his 25 years in the area. After retiring, he moved from the District to Florida.

He was vice president of Congregation Beth El of Montgomery County.

In addition to his daughter, of Bethesda, survivors include his wife of 64 years, Sylvia Luckom of Lake Worth; a son, Lawrence Luckom of West Hartford, Conn.; and five grandchildren.