William Francis Deegan

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William Francis Deegan (December 28, 1882 – April 3, 1932^[1]) 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 as a Major in the National Army (USA) during World War I, supervising the construction of military bases in the New York area under the command of General George W. Goethals^[1]. After the war he helped organize the American Legion, advancing to State Commander in 1921^[1]. Later in life he held a number of political positions, most of them in the Bronx^[1]. Mayor Jimmy Walker in 1928 appointed him Tenement House Commissioner of New York City (A post he was to hold for the rest of his life^[1].), 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 the Triboro Bridge to the Grand Concourse. This was renamed and expanded in 1956^[1] into the Major Deegan Expressway section of I-87 in the Bronx, which retains his name.

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Kenneth T. Jackson: The Encyclopedia of New York City: The New York Historical Society; Yale University Press; 1995. P. 323.