William Wallace Atterbury | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Atterbury circa 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 New Albany, Indiana, U.S. |
| Died | September 20, 1935 (aged 69) Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Resting place | St. David's Episcopal Church, Radnor, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Matilda Hoffman (m. November 13, 1895 – her death in 1910) Arminia (Rosengarten) MacLeod (m. June 10, 1915 – his death in 1935) |
| Children | Malcolm MacLeod Atterbury (adopted) George Rosengarten MacLeod Atterbury (adopted) William W. Atterbury Jr. |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1917-1920 |
| Rank | Brigadier General |
| Unit | American Expeditionary Forces |
| Commands | Transportation Department, American Expeditionary Forces |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
| Awards | Army Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Honor (Commander) (France) Order of the Bath (Companion) (England) Order of the White Eagle (Poland) Order of the Crown (Grand Officer) (Romania) |
| Alma mater | Yale University (Ph.B.) |
William Wallace Atterbury (January 31, 1866 – September 20, 1935)[1][2] was a brigadier general in the United States Army during World War I, who began his career with the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) in 1886 and rose through the ranks to become its tenth president (1925–1935). As director-general of transportation in France during the war, the New Albany, Indiana, native and Yale University graduate was instrumental in reorganizing railroad traffic for more efficient transportation of troops and supplies for the American Expeditionary Forces. He was also known as "The Railroad General". Under his leadership after the war, the Pennsylvania Railroad undertook a $250 million project to electrify major portions of its main line that ran between New York City and Washington, D.C. He also assisted in development of the company's first M1-class steam locomotive.
Atterbury, who was a recipient of the U.S. Army's Distinguished Service Medal, also received honors from France, England, Serbia, and Romania for his wartime military service. In addition, Atterbury was awarded honorary degrees from Yale, the University of Pennsylvania, Villanova University, and Temple University. Camp Atterbury, a former U.S. Army training camp west of Edinburgh, Indiana, and Atterbury Army Airfield (later named Bakalar Air Force Base and the present-day Columbus, Indiana, municipal airport) were named in his memory.
- ^ "Noted rail head, native of city" (PDF). New Albany Tribune. September 21, 1935. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 26, 2012. Retrieved June 26, 2011. Cited at New Albany Floyd County Public Library.
- ^ "William Wallace Atterbury". Dictionary of American Biography. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. 1944. Gale Document Number: GALE|BT2310018570. Retrieved June 26, 2011 – via Fairfax County Public Library.(subscription required) Gale Biography In Context.