Paul L. Troast
Encyclopedia
Paul Lyman Troast was a wealthy building contractor from Passaic, New Jersey
, chairman of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority
during its construction, and one-time failed gubernatorial candidate.
According to a letter to the editor
written by his daughter, Kathleen Troast Pitney: "Governor Driscoll appointed three men to the Turnpike Authority in the late 1940s -- Maxwell Lester, George Smith and Paul Troast, my father, as chairman. They had no enabling legislation and no funding. They were able to open more than two-thirds of the road in 11 months, completing the whole (project) in less than two years. . . . When the commissioners broached the subject of landscaping the road. . . . the governor told them he wanted a road to take the interstate traffic . . . off New Jersey's existing roads. Since 85 percent of the traffic at that time was estimated to be from out of state, why spend additional funds on landscaping?"
In 1953 Troast won the Republican nomination for Governor of New Jersey
. Time
wrote "county bosses ... pushed him through a bitter, party-splitting primary last April. Troast, with no political experience, was known principally for his chairmanship of the commission that built the $220 million New Jersey Turnpike
. But his campaigning has been as flat as his turnpike. He was overconfident, started too late, and let the Democrats gobble up most of the best radio and television time.... Troast suffered his roundest wallop early in October, when newspapers broke the story that Troast had asked New York's Tom Dewey to commute the sentence of Labor Extortionist Joey Fay." Seven major candidates had run in the primary, with Troast beating Malcolm Forbes
by 47,000 votes.
Initially favored, he lost to Robert B. Meyner
by 154,000 votes.
Troast made news again five years later, when, as Time reported: "Rush H. Kress, 81, ailing brother of the late founder of the 261-store S. H. Kress & Co.
five-and-ten chain, was replaced as chairman by New Jersey Construction Executive Paul L. Troast, a leader in the revolt of Kress Foundation directors that stripped Rush Kress of power. Command of the slipping company (sales slid from $176 million in 1952 to $159 million last year) will be shared by Troast, recently named President George L. Cobb and Executive Committee Chairman Frank M. Folsom" Troast was a trustee of Kress from 1951–1972.
Paul Troast served as chairman of the board of New Jersey Business and Industry Association
(NJBIA) and its affiliate, the New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Co., from 1963 until his death in 1972. According to the NJBIA, "he made so many contributions to New Jersey and its business community that Governor Richard J. Hughes
called him 'Mr. New Jersey'." The NJBIA presents the The Troast Award annually "to a public servant who has made an outstanding contribution to the State of New Jersey and its business community."
In 1972 Troast died at his home in Clifton, New Jersey
at the age of 78. He was survived by his children Paul Troast, Jr., Kathleen Troast Pitney, Arthur Troast, John Troast and 19 grandchildren.
Passaic, New Jersey
Passaic is a city in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 69,781, maintaining its status as the 15th largest municipality in New Jersey with an increase of 1,920 residents from the 2000 Census population of 67,861...
, chairman of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority
New Jersey Turnpike Authority
The New Jersey Turnpike Authority is a state agency responsible for maintaining the New Jersey Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway...
during its construction, and one-time failed gubernatorial candidate.
According to a letter to the editor
Letter to the editor
A letter to the editor is a letter sent to a publication about issues of concern from its readers. Usually, letters are intended for publication...
written by his daughter, Kathleen Troast Pitney: "Governor Driscoll appointed three men to the Turnpike Authority in the late 1940s -- Maxwell Lester, George Smith and Paul Troast, my father, as chairman. They had no enabling legislation and no funding. They were able to open more than two-thirds of the road in 11 months, completing the whole (project) in less than two years. . . . When the commissioners broached the subject of landscaping the road. . . . the governor told them he wanted a road to take the interstate traffic . . . off New Jersey's existing roads. Since 85 percent of the traffic at that time was estimated to be from out of state, why spend additional funds on landscaping?"
In 1953 Troast won the Republican nomination for Governor of New Jersey
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
. Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
wrote "county bosses ... pushed him through a bitter, party-splitting primary last April. Troast, with no political experience, was known principally for his chairmanship of the commission that built the $220 million New Jersey Turnpike
New Jersey Turnpike
The New Jersey Turnpike is a toll road in New Jersey, maintained by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. According to the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association, the Turnpike is the nation's sixth-busiest toll road and is among one of the most heavily traveled highways in the United...
. But his campaigning has been as flat as his turnpike. He was overconfident, started too late, and let the Democrats gobble up most of the best radio and television time.... Troast suffered his roundest wallop early in October, when newspapers broke the story that Troast had asked New York's Tom Dewey to commute the sentence of Labor Extortionist Joey Fay." Seven major candidates had run in the primary, with Troast beating Malcolm Forbes
Malcolm Forbes
Malcolm Stevenson Forbes was publisher of Forbes magazine, founded by his father B. C. Forbes and today run by his son Steve Forbes.-Life and career:...
by 47,000 votes.
Initially favored, he lost to Robert B. Meyner
Robert B. Meyner
Robert Baumle Meyner of Phillipsburg, New Jersey was an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 44th Governor of New Jersey, from 1954 to 1962...
by 154,000 votes.
Troast made news again five years later, when, as Time reported: "Rush H. Kress, 81, ailing brother of the late founder of the 261-store S. H. Kress & Co.
S. H. Kress & Co.
S. H. Kress & Co. was the trading name of a chain of "five and dime" retail department stores in the United States, which operated from 1896 to 1981....
five-and-ten chain, was replaced as chairman by New Jersey Construction Executive Paul L. Troast, a leader in the revolt of Kress Foundation directors that stripped Rush Kress of power. Command of the slipping company (sales slid from $176 million in 1952 to $159 million last year) will be shared by Troast, recently named President George L. Cobb and Executive Committee Chairman Frank M. Folsom" Troast was a trustee of Kress from 1951–1972.
Paul Troast served as chairman of the board of New Jersey Business and Industry Association
New Jersey Business and Industry Association
The New Jersey Business & Industry Association is an employer association providing information, services and advocacy for its member companies in order to build a more prosperous New Jersey. It is the state's largest business association with 23,000 member companies, as of 2006...
(NJBIA) and its affiliate, the New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Co., from 1963 until his death in 1972. According to the NJBIA, "he made so many contributions to New Jersey and its business community that Governor Richard J. Hughes
Richard J. Hughes
Richard Joseph Hughes was an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 45th Governor of New Jersey from 1962 to 1970, and as Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court from 1973–1979...
called him 'Mr. New Jersey'." The NJBIA presents the The Troast Award annually "to a public servant who has made an outstanding contribution to the State of New Jersey and its business community."
In 1972 Troast died at his home in Clifton, New Jersey
Clifton, New Jersey
Clifton is a city in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 84,136. The 2010 population represented an increase of 5,464 residents from its population of 78,672 in the 2000 Census, making it the state's 11th largest...
at the age of 78. He was survived by his children Paul Troast, Jr., Kathleen Troast Pitney, Arthur Troast, John Troast and 19 grandchildren.