William Francis Deegan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
William Francis Deegan (1882–1932) was an architect, Major in the Army Corps of Engineers, and Democratic political leader in New York City.
He was educated at Cooper Union, and served in the US Army during World War I supervising the construction of military bases in the New York area. After the war he helped organize the American Legion. Later in life he held a number of positions. Mayor Jimmy Walker in 1928 appointed him Tenement House Commissioner of New York City, and in 1930 Chairman of the Mayor's Committee on Receptions to Distinguished Guests, or "official greeter", a job in which he was preceded by his friend Rodman Wanamaker and eventually succeeded by Grover Whalen. When the Bronx Chamber of Commerce criticized the Mayor, Major Deegan resigned as its President.
He died during the course of surgery in 1932, when a new road was being built from Triboro Bridge to Grand Concourse. This was later expanded into the Major Deegan Expressway section of I-87 in the Bronx, which retains his name.
 |
This New York City-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
