Lehigh Valley Railroad Presidents

THE MAN	YEARS	PRESIDENTIAL INFO
THE	ASA PACKER	YEARS
James M. Porter	10/21/1847 Re-elected again on 1/10/1853 Declines Re-election 1856	Porter, an Easton, Pa. Lawyer was elected President of the Delaware, Lehigh, Schuylkill, and Susquehanna Railroad. The DLSS RR. changed its name to the Lehigh Valley Railroad, 1/7/1853
Wm. M. Longstreth	Interim Pres. till May 1856	Early Railroad promoter and close friend of Asa Packer.
J. Gillingham Fell	Succeeded May 1856.	Early promoter of the railroad and a close friend of Asa Packer.
Asa Packer	Elected Aug. 1862 Steps down as President August 1864. Remains master of the L.V. behind the scenes.	Asa Packer, was the driving force behind the growth of the L.V. For over 25 years, his vision, force of will and money allowed the foundation of the L.V. to be laid. He was born in Conn. Dec. 29, 1805. He had a limited education but was one shrew man. He relocated to Pa. where he entered the Canal business, among other ventures, which led to his interest in railroads. L.V. merges with Beaver Meadow railroad, (7/8/1864) which becomes the oldest part of the L.V. organized on April 7, 1830.
William Longstreth	July 25, 1864 served as interim president in 1856 Resigns 1868	Sees the L.V. through the final days of the Civil war, and saw the expansion of the Wyoming division area in 1867.
Asa Packer	Reinstated 1868 Dies at age 73 on May 17, 1879.	Packer, consolidated smaller roads, and expands his coal empire and railroad. He sees his dream of his railroad expanded to New York State. Packers railroad, under his watchful eye for 25 years had developed from a primitive system to a system of 280 miles of main and branch lines. He also had ownership of the Penn and New York RR. with 105 miles and a majority interest in the Geneva, Ithaca & Sayre Railroad which had another 114 miles of line controlled by Packers Railroad.
Charles Hartshorne	Serves from 1879-1882	Oversees the development of the L.V. continued growth in the Anthracite Coal Area's.
Harry E. Packer	1882-Jan 1884	Who retained control of Asa Packers Road. But both Harry and his Brother Robert die with 2 years of Asa Packers Death.
Elisha Packer Wilbur	Jan 1884-July 1897 Wilbur resigns when J.P. Morgan gains control of the L.V. in 1897	Nephew of Asa Packer, he was a tough and autocratic manager, but gave the L.V. decisive direction. He oversees the greatest growth of the L.V. with the addition of the New Jersey Division, and Onward to Buffalo, both dreams of this Uncle, Asa Packer. He had many labor problems during his tenure.
THE	MORGAN	YEARS
W. Alfred Walter	July 1897-Dec. 1902 Due to shareholder demands, Walter steps down in Dec. 1902.	Walter, had considerable railroading experience behind him having worked for the Penna. Railroad, and DSS as president. Walter, oversaw a complete rebuilding of the L.V. infrastructure, purchase of an expanded fleet of cars, and consolidation of shop facilities.
Eben B. Thomas	Dec. 1902 Retires 1917	Thomas policies promised to be more in line the the L.V. independent shareholders, while carrying through the reconstruction program put in place by Alfred Walter. Presided over the modernization of the roads motive power and car fleet. Led the L.V. through W.W.I
THE LEHIGH	VALLEY	GOLDEN YEARS
Edward E. Loomis	Feb. 21, 1917 Resigns May 5, 1937	Begins rebuilding the L.V. after W.W.I neglect, upgrades rolling stock and guides L.V. through most of the depression era.
Duncan J. Kerr	May 1937-April 1939 Dies Oct 8, 1940	Kerr is disabled in 1939 leaving the L.V. in the temporary hands of several officers.
R. W. Barrett	May - August 1939	The crisis concerning Pres. Kerr sudden illness was solved the the temporary appt. of Barrett, who was L.V. vice president.
Albert N. Williams	Aug. 1939-July 1941	Newly appointed chairmen of the board assumes control, and was subsequently elected as pres. to succeed Duncan Kerr.
Revelle Brown	July 9, 1941- June 1944 Resigns to become pres. of the Reading RR	Oversees the gearing up of the railroad for the coming W.W.II.
THE WAR YEARS	THE BOOM YEARS	THE BUST YEARS
Felix R. Gerard	June 28, 1944 Resigns April 25, 1947	Gerard guides the L.V. through the final war Years, and the readjustment to a post-war economy. The company celebrated its centenary anniversary in April 1946.
Cedric A. Major	April 1947 Dies April 28, 1960	Major presides over the boom to bust years of the L.V. doing all he could to try to stop the fall in revenues, and tonnage, as well as economizing which were all to no avail. The L.V. was dying.
C. W. Baker	April 1960 - June 1960	He becomes temporary President
Colby M. Chester	June 1960 - May 1962	Chairmen of the Board takes over operation, the presidency remains unoccupied till the pending Penna. Railroad takes over.
THE	PENNSY	TAKES OVER
Allen J. Greenough	May 23, 1962 - Oct 1965	He finally succeeds Cedric Major who had died in 1960. Greenough also retains his executive post with the PRR.
John F. Nash	Oct 28, 1965 - August 11, 1970	Nash presides over the last years of the L.V. The valiant fight to keep the L.V. afloat was quickly coming to an end. The PRR, allowed the L.V. to have credit and this forestalled the end. John Nash would be the last man to have the title: President of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Co.
THE	END	OF AN ERA
John F. Nash	August 12, 1970 to December 1974	With the collapse of the Penn Central Railroad, the L.V. filed for bankruptcy protection and reorganization on 6/24/74. John Nash is named trustee of the railroad, on 8/12/74 and stayed in that position until he retires in December of 1974.
Robert Haldeman	August 12, 1970 to April 1, 1976	Haldeman, a senior marketing analyst from the Southern Railroad became trustee and remained till the end of the L.V. and its inclusion into Conrail.