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.
William Wallace Atterbury was born in New Albany, Indiana, on January 31, 1866.[1][3] He was the seventh son of Catherine Jones (Larned) and John Guest Atterbury, a former lawyer who became a Presbyterian missionary minister.[2][4]
In 1886 Atterbury began work as an apprentice in the Pennsylvania Railroad's shops at Altoona, earning five cents an hour.[2][7] Atterbury rose through the ranks to become general superintendent of motive power at the Altoona Works in 1901, a general manager of the Pennsylvania Railroad's lines east of Pittsburgh in 1903, and a company vice president in charge of transportation in 1909.[2] On May 8, 1912, the railroad company named him a vice president in charge of operations.[3] In 1916 Atterbury also became president of the American Railway Association.[2]
Between August 1917 and May 1919, Atterbury supervised construction of harbor facilities and a portion of the railways in France that were assigned to the U.S. Army for maintenance and operation.[8] The troops in France gave him the nickname of "General Attaboy" and he was also known as "The Railroad General."[5][9] Atterbury was discharged from military service on May 31, 1919, and returned to civilian life in Pennsylvania.[3]
In 1920 Atterbury resumed his career with the Pennsylvania Railroad as vice president in charge of operations.[5] On October 1, 1925, he succeeded Samuel Rea to become the tenth president of the railroad company, a position he held until 1935.[3] During Atterbury's tenure as company president, the Pennsylvania Railroad undertook a $250 million project to electrify a 245-mile (394 km) multi-track main line that ran between New York City and Washington, D.C. Begun in 1928 and completed in 1935, it was the largest capital improvement project ever undertaken by an American railroad company up to that time. In addition, Atterbury assisted in development of the company's first M1-class steam locomotive.[5] Atterbury retired from the railroad in 1935 due to ill health.[2] He advocated for the consolidation of railroads and elimination of underused rail lines.[10]
On February 16, 1942, the U.S. War Department announced that its new military training camp under construction approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) west of Edinburgh, Indiana, would be named Camp Atterbury in his memory.[8] In April 1943 an air field established near Camp Atterbury was renamed Atterbury Army Airfield. (It was renamed Atterbury Army Air Base in June 1943 and Bakalar Air Base in 1954.) After its deactivation as a military base, the facility began operating as a civilian airfield, known as the Columbus Municipal Airport.[16]
Honors and tributes
For his service during World War I, the U.S. Army awarded Atterbury the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the citation for which reads:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Army Distinguished Service Medal to Brigadier General William W. Atterbury, United States Army, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services to the Government of the United States, in a duty of great responsibility, during World War I. As Director General of Transportation, in the face of almost insurmountable obstacles, General Atterbury organized and brought to a high state of efficiency the Transportation Service of the American Expeditionary Forces. The successful operation of this most important service upon which the movements and supply of the combat troops were dependent, was largely due to his energy, foresight, and ability.[17]
^ ab"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.
^ abDorothy Riker, compiler (1952). The Hoosier Training Ground: A History of Army and Navy Training Centers, Forts, Depots, and Other Military Installations Within the State Boundaries During World War II. Indiana in World War II. Vol. III. Bloomington: Indiana War History Commission. pp. 20–21.
Riker, Dorothy, compiler (1952). The Hoosier Training Ground: A History of Army and Navy Training Centers, Forts, Depots, and Other Military Installations Within the State Boundaries During World War II. Indiana in World War II. Vol. III. Bloomington: Indiana War History Commission.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
Taulman, Larry, and Don G. Wertz, eds. (1983). The Atterbury File. Franklin, Indiana: Custer Baker Middle School. {{cite book}}: |author= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
Who's Who (1975). Who Was Who in American History - The Military. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. pp. 18–19. ISBN978-0837932019. OCLC2143230.
"William Wallace Atterbury"(PDF). Atterbury-Muscatatuck and the Indiana National Guard. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
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