William John Quinn

William John Quinn was a 20th century American railroad executive. He was an attorney for the Soo Line before joining the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad in 1954 and later from 1957 to 1966, served as President. In 1966, he became president of the Burlington Railroad. He later returned to the Milwaukee Road, where he was chairman from 1970 until its final collapse.

Quinn is best remembered as the last leader of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad and for its notorious scheme of de-electrification in 1972, right before the 1973 oil crisis. This and the general collapse of the road in the 1960s led to the final bankruptcy of the famous Milwaukee Road.

References

* [http://www.trainweb.org/milwaukee/article.html Milwaukee Road in the 70's: What really happened? from Trainweb]
* [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,836545,00.html Presidential Turntable (Time Magazine article from Oct. 21, 1966]