William Wallace Atterbury, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

William Wallace Atterbury

American railroad executive

Date of Birth: 31-Jan-1866

Place of Birth: New Albany, Indiana, United States

Date of Death: 20-Sep-1935

Profession: military officer

Nationality: United States

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

William Wallace Atterbury (January 31, 1866 – September 20, 1935) 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.