NATION : No. 2 GSA Official Quits After Probe

WASHINGTON — The acting No. 2 official of the General Services Administration resigned abruptly after being told that “adverse information” about him had turned up in a security investigation, GSA officials said today.

The information surfaced a year ago but had been held from the man and other top GSA officials, the GSA said.

Richard G. Austin, acting administrator of the agency that serves as the federal government’s landlord, said David Godfrey submitted his resignation as chief of staff on Sept. 15, effective Oct. 15. Austin said the “adverse information” included “possible substantial outstanding debts incurred in Texas.”

Godfrey was a Midland, Tex., banker, real estate developer and businessman engaged in oil and gas operations before he became the regional administrator for the GSA in 1987.