Thomas Harris MacDonald, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

Thomas Harris MacDonald

American civil engineer

Date of Birth: 23-Jul-1881

Place of Birth: Leadville, Colorado, United States

Date of Death: 07-Apr-1957

Profession: engineer, civil engineer

Zodiac Sign: Leo

Thomas Harris "Chief" MacDonald (July 23, 1881 – April 7, 1957) was an American civil engineer and politician with tremendous influence in building the country's interstate highway system.
He served as chief of the Iowa State Highway Commission, chief of the Bureau of Public Roads from 1919 to 1939, and commissioner of the Bureau of Public Roads from 1939 until March 31, 1953 until he resigned shortly after President Dwight D.
Eisenhower's first term began on January 20, 1953. He directed national road policy for 34 years, serving under seven different U.S.
Presidents.
During his time, he supervised the creation of 3.5 million miles of highways.
Later, he personally directed the creation of the Alaskan Highway, and helped the countries of Central America in building the Inter-American Highway.
"[He] was a force as powerful as his counterpart at the FBI, J.
Edgar Hoover," insists historian Stephen B.
Goddard, "yet was virtually unknown to most Americans."