Los Angeles County
Biographies
WILLIAM
MARTIN JEFFERS
William Martin Jeffers, vice chairman of Union Pacific System, was born in North Platte, Nebraska, on January 2, 1876. He is the son of William and Elizabeth (Gannon). His education was obtained in the public grade and high schools.
Mr. Jeffers became office boy for the Union Pacific Railroad on June 1, 1890, and has continued with the same railroad successively as telegrapher and clerk; maintenance of way department; clerk and telegrapher from 1894 to 1895; train dispatcher from 1898 to 1900; chief dispatcher from 1900 to 1905; trainmaster (Green River, Wyoming, and Denver, Colorado) from 1905 to 1908; assistant superintendent of Utah (Ogden) division and superintendent of Wyoming (Cheyenne) and Nebraska (Omaha) divisions, from 1908 to 1915; general superintendent from 1915 to 1916; general manager since June 3, 1916, also vice president from 1917 to 1920 and vice president in charge of operation from 1928 to 1932; executive vice president of Union Pacific System from 1932 to 1937, president from 1937 to 1946, and vice chairman of board of directors since March 1946.
He was director of rubber, United States Government, from 1942 to 1943; Knight of Malta; member of California Club of Los Angeles; and Lakeside Golf Club of Hollywood, California.
Mr. Jeffers married Lena A. Schatz in June 1900 (died April 9, 1946). His home is at Shamrock Cottage, Huntington Hotel, Pasadena, California.
It was largely during Mr. Jeffers’ administration as general manager that the intensive safety work on the Union Pacific was developed and in which the Union Pacific has attained unequaled record among all American railroads. It was also during his service as general manager that the Old Timers’ Clubs on the Union Pacific, composed of employees of more than twenty years of service, were organized and developed. Mr. Jeffers himself is a member of the Old Timers’ Club No. 1 at Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Offices: Union Pacific Building, 422 West Sixth Street, Los Angeles, California.
Transcribed 1-25-14 Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: Eminent
Californians 1953, by Lee E. Johnson & C. W. Taylor. Page 208, C. W. Taylor
Publ., Palo Alto, California, 1953.
© 2014 Marilyn R. Pankey.
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