William Kenney

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William Patrick Kenney
William Patrick Kenney in 1918.jpg
Kenney in 1918
President of the Great Northern Railway
In office
January 1, 1932 – January 24, 1939
Preceded byRalph Budd
Personal details
Born(1870-01-10)January 10, 1870
Watertown, Wisconsin
DiedJanuary 24, 1939(1939-01-24) (aged 69)
St. Paul, Minnesota

William Patrick Kenney (January 10, 1870 – January 24, 1939) was the president of the Great Northern Railway.[1][2]

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[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c "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.
  2. ^ The Great Northern Goat, Vols 10-15, 1939, p. 11 |volume= has extra text (help)
  3. ^ ""Kenney's Goat" Story Recalled", Spokane Daily Chronicle, p. 1, 12 November 1931
  4. ^ "New Railway Chief 44 Years In Work. Will Head Railway". New York Times. December 27, 1931.
  5. ^ Downs, Winfield Scott (1940), Encyclopedia of American Biography, American Historical Company

External links[]


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