Charles Eugene Denney
Encyclopedia
Charles Eugene Denney, Sr. (October 18, 1879 - January 18, 1965) was president of Northern Pacific Railway
from 1939 through 1950.
, on October 18, 1879, the son of William H. Denney and Sarah E. Tabert.
He married Irene Sullivan Sickels (c1880-1970), and together they had two sons: Clark Denney and Charles Eugene Denney, Jr.
Denney was educated in the public schools of Lancaster, Pennsylvania
, after which he attended Pennsylvania State College 1899 to 1905, while working for Union Switch and Signal Company.
In 1905 he began working for the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway
(which later became part of New York Central Railroad
) as assistant signal engineer. He worked his way up through promotions within the New York Central system until 1916 when he returned to Union Switch and Signal. In 1917 he moved to an executive position with the New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad
where he was promoted to vice-president and general manager in 1928. In 1929 Denney became president of Erie Railroad
. He remained in that position until October, 1939 when he became president of Northern Pacific Railway
.
He died on January 18, 1965.
Northern Pacific Railway
The Northern Pacific Railway was a railway that operated in the west along the Canadian border of the United States. Construction began in 1870 and the main line opened all the way from the Great Lakes to the Pacific when former president Ulysses S. Grant drove in the final "golden spike" in...
from 1939 through 1950.
Biography
He was born in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, on October 18, 1879, the son of William H. Denney and Sarah E. Tabert.
He married Irene Sullivan Sickels (c1880-1970), and together they had two sons: Clark Denney and Charles Eugene Denney, Jr.
Denney was educated in the public schools of Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
, after which he attended Pennsylvania State College 1899 to 1905, while working for Union Switch and Signal Company.
In 1905 he began working for the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway
Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway
The Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway, sometimes referred to as the Lake Shore, was a major part of the New York Central Railroad's Water Level Route from Buffalo, NY to Chicago, primarily along the south shore of Lake Erie and across northern Indiana...
(which later became part of New York Central Railroad
New York Central Railroad
The New York Central Railroad , known simply as the New York Central in its publicity, was a railroad operating in the Northeastern United States...
) as assistant signal engineer. He worked his way up through promotions within the New York Central system until 1916 when he returned to Union Switch and Signal. In 1917 he moved to an executive position with the New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad
New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad
The New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railroad , abbreviated NYC&St.L, was a railroad that operated in the mid-central United States. Commonly referred to as the Nickel Plate Road, the railroad served a large area, including trackage in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois...
where he was promoted to vice-president and general manager in 1928. In 1929 Denney became president of Erie Railroad
Erie Railroad
The Erie Railroad was a railroad that operated in New York State, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, originally connecting New York City with Lake Erie...
. He remained in that position until October, 1939 when he became president of Northern Pacific Railway
Northern Pacific Railway
The Northern Pacific Railway was a railway that operated in the west along the Canadian border of the United States. Construction began in 1870 and the main line opened all the way from the Great Lakes to the Pacific when former president Ulysses S. Grant drove in the final "golden spike" in...
.
He died on January 18, 1965.