Walter J. Tuohy*

Walter Tuohy, the son of a police sergeant, was born in Chicago. He left school at the age of 16 and took a job as a clerk in the freight house of the Illinois Central Railroad. Two years later, he enrolled in night classes at DePaul University and in 1925, after six years of studying, he received his bachelor's degree.

While attending night school, Tuohy became office manager for a small Chicago manufacturing concern. When the factory burned, he took a job with the Pennsylvania Railroad as secretary to the district passenger agent. Later, he went to work for the Wisconsin Lime and Cement Company. Meanwhile, he enrolled in DePaul University Law School, returning once more to the work-by-day, study-by-night routine.

After Wisconsin Lime merged with Consumers Company, Tuohy became assistant to the vice president. In 1939, he became president of Globe Coal Company. After four years, he moved to Cleveland to become vice president in charge of coal traffic and development.

In 1948, Tuohy was elected president of Chesapeake & Ohio Railway (C&O). He held that position until he was elevated to vice chairman and CEO. Moreover, he directed the merger of C&O and the Baltimore and Ohio, the nation's first railroad.