D. William Brosnan
Encyclopedia
D. William Brosnan was a former president of Southern Railway
in the USA, a railroad that later merged with Norfolk and Western Railroad to form Norfolk Southern Railway
. He succeeded Harry A. deButts
in 1962. In 1964 Brosnan was selected as the first recipient of the Man of the Year award selected by Modern Railways
magazine, an award now presented by Railway Age
magazine as the Railroader of the Year
.
While Brosnan was a brilliant railroader and innovator, his ham-fisted tactics of management, specifically during the takeover of the Central of Georgia Railroad in 1963, forever marked him as a ruthless tyrant to many. For many years after Brosnan was gone one could not find any former Central of Georgia (and very few Southern) agreement employees who would speak of him in printable language. Nearly 1,500 employees of the Central were terminated without cause on Brosnan's orders after the merger. Four years later, a Federal Court ruled that the Southern had to pay retroactive pay to these unfairly terminated workers.
In 1967, Brosnan was informed by Southern's Board of Directors that he would have to step down as Chairman and CEO of the Southern Railway.
He remained on the Board of directors of the Southern until 1983. Brosnan died in 1985.
Southern Railway (US)
The Southern Railway is a former United States railroad. It was the product of nearly 150 predecessor lines that were combined, reorganized and recombined beginning in the 1830s, formally becoming the Southern Railway in 1894...
in the USA, a railroad that later merged with Norfolk and Western Railroad to form Norfolk Southern Railway
Norfolk Southern Railway
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...
. He succeeded Harry A. deButts
Harry A. deButts
Harry Ashby deButts was a former president of Southern Railway in the United States. He was succeeded by D. William Brosnan in 1962....
in 1962. In 1964 Brosnan was selected as the first recipient of the Man of the Year award selected by Modern Railways
Modern Railways
Modern Railways is a British monthly magazine covering the rail transport industry published by Ian Allan. It has been published since 1962....
magazine, an award now presented by Railway Age
Railway Age
Railway Age is an American trade journal for the rail transport industry. It was founded in 1856 in Chicago and is published monthly by Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation. The magazine's original title was the Western Railroad Gazette, and was renamed the Railroad Gazette in 1870...
magazine as the Railroader of the Year
Railroader of the Year
Railroader of the Year is an annual award presented to a North American railroad industry worker by trade journal Railway Age. The award was first presented in 1964 by trade journal Modern Railroads and has continued through the magazine acquisition in 1992 to the present.Past recipients of this...
.
While Brosnan was a brilliant railroader and innovator, his ham-fisted tactics of management, specifically during the takeover of the Central of Georgia Railroad in 1963, forever marked him as a ruthless tyrant to many. For many years after Brosnan was gone one could not find any former Central of Georgia (and very few Southern) agreement employees who would speak of him in printable language. Nearly 1,500 employees of the Central were terminated without cause on Brosnan's orders after the merger. Four years later, a Federal Court ruled that the Southern had to pay retroactive pay to these unfairly terminated workers.
In 1967, Brosnan was informed by Southern's Board of Directors that he would have to step down as Chairman and CEO of the Southern Railway.
He remained on the Board of directors of the Southern until 1983. Brosnan died in 1985.