William Wallace Atterbury

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William Wallace Atterbury
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 January 31, 1866(1866-01-31)
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)
A plaque commemorating the career of William Wallace Atterbury, hanging in Philadelphia's 30th Street Station, a former Pennsylvania Railroad Station.

William Wallace Atterbury (January 31, 1866 – September 20, 1935)[1][2] was a 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 10th president of the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) (1925–1935). He was a leader in pushing to electrify portions of the PRR.

[edit] 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 an apprentice apprentice in the Pennsylvania Railroad shops at Altoona for five cents/hour.[2][3] In 1925, he succeeded Samuel Rea as president of the Pennsylvania Railroad, 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]

Atterbury on the cover of Time Magazine in 1933.

[edit] Legacy

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

[edit] References

  • Atterbury-Bakalar Air Museum (2000), General Atterbury. Retrieved February 21, 2005.
  • The Political Graveyard (March 10, 2005), Politicians in Railroading in Indiana. Retrieved December 30, 2005.
  • White, John H., Jr. (Spring 1986). America's most noteworthy railroaders, Railroad History 154, p. 9-15.
Party political offices
Preceded by
George Pepper
Member of the Republican National Committee from Pennsylvania
1928–1930
Succeeded by
Jay Cooke
Other offices
Preceded by
Samuel Rea
President of the Pennsylvania Railroad
1925–1935
Succeeded by
Martin Clement


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