William Kenney
William Patrick Kenney (January 10, 1870 – January 24, 1939) was the president of the Great Northern Railway.[1][2]
William Patrick Kenney | |
|---|---|
 Kenney in 1918 | |
| President of the Great Northern Railway | |
| In office January 1, 1932 – January 24, 1939 | |
| Preceded by | Ralph Budd |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 10, 1870 Watertown, Wisconsin |
| Died | January 24, 1939 (aged 69) St. Paul, Minnesota |
Biography
He was born on January 10, 1870 in Watertown, Wisconsin.[1]
As a boy in Minneapolis, Kenney delivered newspapers. He used a goat to pull his wagon load of papers until the neighbours objected to the smell and the goat was sold to a rancher in Montana. Later, Kenney joined the Great Northern Railway which needed a trademark. He suggested the image of the goat to James J. Hill, the "Empire Builder" who ran the railroad, and it was adopted.[3]
In 1931 he was vice president and director of traffic at the Great Northern Railway. He replaced Ralph Budd as president on January 1, 1932.[4]
He died at St. Joseph's Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota on January 24, 1939.[5][1]
References
- "W.P. Kenney Dies. Head Of Railway. President of Great Northern. Began Career as Newsboy in Minneapolis". New York Times. Associated Press. January 25, 1939.
- The Great Northern Goat, Vols 10-15, 1939, p. 11
- ""Kenney's Goat" Story Recalled", Spokane Daily Chronicle, p. 1, 12 November 1931
- "New Railway Chief 44 Years In Work. Will Head Railway". New York Times. December 27, 1931.
- Downs, Winfield Scott (1940), Encyclopedia of American Biography, American Historical Company
External links
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