William Wallace Atterbury

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
(Redirected from William W. Atterbury)
Jump to: navigation, search
William Wallace Atterbury
File:William Wallace Atterbury 9722409e77 o.jpg
c. 1913
Member of the
Republican National Committee
from Pennsylvania
In office
May 12, 1928 – October 10, 1930
Preceded by George Pepper
Succeeded by Jay Cooke
Personal details
Born (1866-01-31)January 31, 1866
New Albany, Indiana
Died September 20, 1935(1935-09-20)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Matilda Hoffman of Fort Wayne, Ind. (November 13, 1895 – her death in 1910)
Arminia (Rosengarten) MacLeod (June 10, 1915 – his death)
Children three McLeod children he adopted
William W. Atterbury, Jr.
Alma mater Sheffield Scientific School (1886)

William Wallace Atterbury (January 31, 1866 – September 20, 1935)[1][2] was an American Brigadier General during World War I. He was instrumental in reorganizing railroad traffic during the war for more efficient transportation of troops and supplies for the American Expeditionary Forces. After the war, he became the tenth president of the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) (1925–1935). He was a leader in pushing to electrify portions of the PRR.

Biography

Atterbury was born in New Albany, Indiana. He attended Yale University, Class of 1886, where he was a member of the Chi Phi Fraternity. He was a Pennsylvania delegate to the 1920 Republican National Convention.

He started as an apprentice in the Pennsylvania Railroad shops at Altoona for five cents/hour.[2][3]

In 1925, he succeeded Samuel Rea as president of the PRR, a position he held until he retired in 1935.

Atterbury was also active in Republican State politics. In 1928,[4] he was elected the state's Republican National Committeeman, though he resigned from the post two years later in opposition to Gifford Pinchot's gubernatorial candidacy.[5]

Awards and decorations

For his work he was awarded: Distinguished Service Medal, Commander of the Legion of Honor (France); Companion of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath (England); Commander of the Royal Order of the White Eagle (Serbia), and Grand Officer of the Order of the Crown (Romania).[6]

File:Time-magazine-atterbury.jpg
Atterbury on the cover of Time Magazine in 1933.

File:William Wallace Atterbury plaque 30th St Station Philadelphia.png
A plaque commemorating the career of William Wallace Atterbury, hanging in Philadelphia's 30th Street Station, a former Pennsylvania Railroad Station.

Legacy

Camp Atterbury in Edinburgh, Indiana, is named for him, as was, for a time, Atterbury Army Airfield.

See also

References

  1. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. cited at New Albany Floyd County Public Library.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.(subscription required) Gale Biography In Context.
  3. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. Indianamilitary.org

Further reading

  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

Party political offices
Preceded by Member of the Republican National Committee from Pennsylvania
1928–1930
Succeeded by
Jay Cooke
Other offices
Preceded by President of the Pennsylvania Railroad
1925–1935
Succeeded by
Martin Clement