Robert Stetson Macfarlane
Encyclopedia
Robert Stetson Macfarlane (born January 15, 1899) was president of Northern Pacific Railway
1951-1966.
He was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota
, on January 15, 1899, the son of Walker K. and Blanche (Stetson) Macfarlane. He married Vivian Clemans on February 21, 1925; together they had Anne (Mrs. Raymond W. Jones, Jr.), Mary (Mrs. Benjamin G. Griggs, Jr.), Robert, Jr., and Vivian (Sra. J. J. Martinez).
He served in the U.S. Navy from 1917 to 1919, leaving there as a lieutenant (junior grade).
Macfarlane was educated at Brown University
and University of Washington
where he graduated magna cum laude with an L.L.B. degree in 1922. He worked at the law firm of Chadwick, McMicken, Ramsey and Rupp from 1919 until his graduation in 1922, at which time he became chief deputy prosecuting attorney for King County, Washington
, a position he held until 1925. The next five years were spent with the law firm of Schwellenbach, Merrick and Macfarlane. In 1930 Macfarlane became a judge of the Superior Court for King County and remained in that position until 1934. He was named president of University of Washington
Alumni Association in 1931, and in 1933 he was honored with a distinguished service award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
After his service as a judge, Macfarlane became the assistant western counsel for Northern Pacific Railway
, where he worked his way up through promotions to become president of the railroad in 1951. During this time, he also served as a Colonel for the U.S. Army Transportation Corps in 1951 and 1952. In 1966 he left the presidency to become Chairman of the Board for Northern Pacific. While he was working his way toward the railroad's presidency, Macfarlane also served as a director for the Seattle School Board from 1934 to 1950.
Macfarlane also served as a director for Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
, Pacific National Bank in Seattle, First National Bank in St. Paul, Colorado and Southern Railway
, St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance, First Trust Company in St. Paul, American Smelting and Refining, Minnesota Mutual Life Insurance, and First Bank Stock Corporation in Minneapolis.
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...
1951-1966.
He was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
, on January 15, 1899, the son of Walker K. and Blanche (Stetson) Macfarlane. He married Vivian Clemans on February 21, 1925; together they had Anne (Mrs. Raymond W. Jones, Jr.), Mary (Mrs. Benjamin G. Griggs, Jr.), Robert, Jr., and Vivian (Sra. J. J. Martinez).
He served in the U.S. Navy from 1917 to 1919, leaving there as a lieutenant (junior grade).
Macfarlane was educated at Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
and University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
where he graduated magna cum laude with an L.L.B. degree in 1922. He worked at the law firm of Chadwick, McMicken, Ramsey and Rupp from 1919 until his graduation in 1922, at which time he became chief deputy prosecuting attorney for King County, Washington
King County, Washington
King County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. The population in the 2010 census was 1,931,249. King is the most populous county in Washington, and the 14th most populous in the United States....
, a position he held until 1925. The next five years were spent with the law firm of Schwellenbach, Merrick and Macfarlane. In 1930 Macfarlane became a judge of the Superior Court for King County and remained in that position until 1934. He was named president of University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
Alumni Association in 1931, and in 1933 he was honored with a distinguished service award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
After his service as a judge, Macfarlane became the assistant western counsel for 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...
, where he worked his way up through promotions to become president of the railroad in 1951. During this time, he also served as a Colonel for the U.S. Army Transportation Corps in 1951 and 1952. In 1966 he left the presidency to become Chairman of the Board for Northern Pacific. While he was working his way toward the railroad's presidency, Macfarlane also served as a director for the Seattle School Board from 1934 to 1950.
Macfarlane also served as a director for Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad was a railroad that operated in the Midwestern United States. Commonly referred to as the Burlington or as the Q, the Burlington Route served a large area, including extensive trackage in the states of Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri,...
, Pacific National Bank in Seattle, First National Bank in St. Paul, Colorado and Southern Railway
Colorado and Southern Railway
The Colorado and Southern Railway was a railroad company in the western United States that operated independently from 1898 to 1908, then as part of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad until it was absorbed into the Burlington Northern Railroad in 1981.The railway began as the...
, St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance, First Trust Company in St. Paul, American Smelting and Refining, Minnesota Mutual Life Insurance, and First Bank Stock Corporation in Minneapolis.