William A. Irvin
William A. Irvin | |
|---|---|
Irvin in 1935 | |
| 4th President of U.S. Steel | |
| In office April 19, 1932 – January 1, 1938 | |
| Preceded by | James A. Farrell Sr. |
| Succeeded by | Benjamin Franklin Fairless |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William Adolph Irvin December 7, 1873 |
| Died | January 1, 1952 (aged 78) Manhattan, New York, US |
William Adolph Irvin (December 7, 1873 – January 1, 1952) was an American business executive who served as president of U.S. Steel from 1932 to 1938.
Biography
Irvin was born on December 7, 1873, in Indiana, Pennsylvania,[1] to contractor David S. Irvin Sophia Bergman Irvin; his father was of Scottish descent and his mother of German. He attended night classes at the Indiana State Normal School. In 1888, he was hired as a telegraphist and freight forwarder for the Pennsylvania Railroad.[2]
In 1895, Irvin entered the iron and steel industry, when he was hired as a clerk for P. H. Laufmann Co., based in Apollo, Pennsylvania. In 1900, he was transferred to New York City following Laurmann's acquisition by American Sheet & Tin Plate Co., and in 1904, was transferred to Pittsburgh after a merger.[2] On September 1, 1931, he was named the vice president of U.S. Steel.[1] During a quarterly meeting on October 26, he was elected to succeed James A. Farrell Sr.;[3] he served as president from April 19, 1932, until January 1, 1938. He was described in The New York Times in 1932 as "frank, soft-spoken, but aggressive".[2] When Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins organized a meeting between business and labor leaders, he was the only business leader to attend.[4] He was also a member of multiple professional associations and standards organizations.[2]
Irvin married Luella May Cunningham, having five children together. He later married Gertrude Whitman Gifford, on March 17, 1910.[2] He died on January 1, 1952, aged 78, in the Harkness Pavilion of the Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan.[5][6] He is the namesake of the SS William A. Irvin, which was a flagship of U.S. Steel's lake freighters. The ship is now a museum.[7]
References
- ^ a b "'Bill' Irvin, Once Messenger Boy, Named Vice President of U.S. Steel". The Pittsburgh Press. September 3, 1931.
- ^ a b c d e "W.A. Irvin Is Chosen U.S. Steel President; Farrell's Successor Began as Telegrapher; W.A. IRVIN CHOSEN STEEL PRESIDENT (Published 1932)". 1932-03-10. Retrieved 2025-11-02.
- ^ Railway Age. Vol. 18. Simmons-Boardman. 1937. p. 625.
- ^ Warren, Kenneth (2008-01-17). Bethlehem Steel: Builder and Arsenal of America. University of Pittsburgh Pre. p. 133. ISBN 978-0-8229-7376-8.
- ^ "W. A. Irvin 78, Dies. U.S. Steel Ex-Chief. President of Corporation from 1932 to 1938. Was Leader in National Safety Council". The New York Times. January 2, 1952.
- ^ "Former Steel Corporation Head Dies". Owosso Argus-Press. Associated Press. January 2, 1952.
- ^ "A tour of the William A. Irvin, a Duluth marvel - CBS Minnesota". www.cbsnews.com. 2024-08-07. Retrieved 2025-11-02.