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

1. "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
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

• William Kenney at Find a Grave