Thomas Harris MacDonald
Academic
1881 – 1957
Who was Thomas Harris MacDonald?
Thomas Harris "Chief" MacDonald was an American civil engineer and politician with tremendous influence in building the country's interstate highway system. He served as chief of the Iowa State Highway Commission, chief of the Bureau of Public Roads from 1919 to 1939, and commissioner of the Bureau of Public Roads from 1939 until 1953.
He directed national road policy for 34 years, serving under seven different US Presidents. During his time, he supervised the creation of 3.5 million miles of highways. Later, he personally directed the creation of the Alaskan Highway, and helped the countries of Central America in building the Inter-American Highway. "[He] was a force as powerful as his counterpart at the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover," insists historian Stephen B. Goddard, "yet was virtually unknown to most Americans."
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- Born
- Jul 23, 1881
Leadville - Nationality
- United States of America
- Education
- Iowa State University
- Lived in
- United States of America
- Died
- Apr 7, 1957
College Station
Submitted
on July 23, 2013
Citation
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"Thomas Harris MacDonald." Biographies.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 25 Apr. 2024. <https://www.biographies.net/people/en/thomas_harris_macdonald>.
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