Mississippi State University - Reveille Yearbook (Starkville, MS)

Page 7 text:

Ha William Wilson 3Ftnl u,ffiEl.,l.A. President of the Southern Railway Lines. As a slight memorial of our lasting appreciation of his noble efforts toward the agricultural and economical de- velopment of the South, as a testimony of the loyalty he- has ever commanded from every other native son of Mis- sissippi, and as an unworthy token of our regard for his masterly intellect, his unselfish devotion to his Southland, and his indomitable spirit in her behalf, this the ninth volume of THE REVEILLE is dedicated.

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(greeting 3n this bolumr, tobicb toe babe stnben so faitbfullp to perfect, toe babe askeb anb obtaincb tlic cooperation of eberp class in college anb eberp member of tbe faculty. J ljoulb tt aib someone in bis reflections anb musings ober bis college baps, to recall the cbents, tbe olb familiar faces anb tbe rerorbs of himself anb fjis fellotos anb bis frienbs, tben, regarbless of our errors, toe shall regarb our efforts as crotonrb toitb glorious sue cess anb our tebious task as but a patbtoap of pleasure

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.)) J ) , -P IS, flrrsiitntt William Iffltlsmt 3Fitil?g William Wilson Finley, president of the Southern Railway lines, was born at Pass Christian, Miss., September 2, 1853. He served from vice-president ' s stenographer to assistant general freight agent of the New Orleans, Jackson Great Northern and Chicago, St. Louis New Orleans railways from I8?: to 1883. For two years thereafter he was assistant general freight agent of the Texas Pacific Railway, serving them one year in the same capacity during the receivership of that road. After two years as general freight agent of the rehabili- tated line he went to the Fan Handle Route for a year in a similar office. He was then made chairman of the Trans-Missouri Traffic Association, which office he held until 189-2. For three years succeeding he was general traffic manager of the G. N. Montana Central Railroad, leaving to become commissioner of the Southern States Passenger Association. He was chosen third vice-president of the Southern Railway October 1, 189,5, became second vice-president a year later, holding the office for ten years. In December, 1906, be was chosen president, succeeding the late Samuel B. Spencer. Mr. Finley was president also of the Mobile Ohio Railroad, Southern Railway m Mississippi, Alabama Great Southern Railroad, Cincinnati, New Orleans Texas Pacific Railway, Georgia Southern Florida Railway and Northern Alabama Railway. During his incumbency Mr. Finley paid much attention to the agricultural and economi- cal development of the South. He was one of the foremost promoters of industrial develop- ment of his native and surrounding States; in this field be was an influential supporter of the Mississippi Agricultural Mechanical College, since he realized as have few other men of his position the gigantic force for the uplift of the masses t hat this college has and continues to exert. So firmly satisfied of the superior merits of this college was President Finley, that his road now offers two scholarships to students attending this institution. And in 1912 he started the foundation for the Finley Loan Fund, which he suggested should be used to aid poor boys in defraying their expenses while in college. Too, he was a versatile writer and speaker on problems relating to the material advancement of the country traversed by the lines of which he was head. On March 3, L910, the degree of 1.1.. I), was conferred upon Mr. Finley by Tulane Uni- versity, and on June 2, 1910, the same degree was conferred upon him by the State University of Kentucky. He was vice-president and chairman of the executive committee of the Ameri- can Highway Association, which is the clearing house for the good roads movement in the United States. He was one of the founders of the organization and through it aided the road movement throughout the South. On November 25, 1913, in the very prime of life, he died from a sudden stroke of apo- plexy, thus ending the active career of one of the leading figures in movements for the devel- opment of the South and one of Mississippi ' s most illustrious sons.