Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-04-12
ASSOCIATES To
FETE GENTRY On
GOTH BIRTHDAY
Tribute to Distinguished Career
of Southern Bell Telephone
Company Head Planned.

Colonel William T. Gentry is await
ng--if he has a hint Of them-with
some degree of trepidation the events
of next Tuesday, the siXtieth ami
versary Of his birth
He Ks to be the guest of honor al
some sore OF Inbiatiun that win make
history i'm telephone circles, but be-
yond that all is dark, deep mystery
What his associates and employees
in the Southern Bell are preparing
for him they are keeping to them
selves.
1t may be conjectured, however
that, whatever the nature OF the cele-
bration, 1t will be a tribute to the dis
tinguished career of Colonel Gentry
who is known as one of the foremost
telephone men in America, and
whose reputation abroad caused him
to be called to London as an expert
witness.
Entered Service in 1870.
Forty-foUr years ago he entered the
telegraph service as a green youth of
16 years This was at Charlottes-
vile, Va. To-day he is president OF
the Southern Bell Telephone and Tel
egraph Company and of the Cumber-
land Telephone and Telegraph Com
pany.
In 1S73-three years after he start
ed work at Charlottesville-he was
promoted to circuit manager of all
the lines of the Southern and Allan
tic Telegraph Company in Virginia, a
responsible position for a youth of I9
years.
He was transferred to Lynchburg,
Va, in 1876 when the S. and A. Com
pany was absorbed by She Western
Union Later he went to Whining
ton, N. c., where he remained four
years, serving part of the time as
chief operator.
Colonel Gentry was transferred to
the telephone department of the
Western Union in 1879. constructing
and operating an exchange for that
company in Wilmington He became
manager for the Western Union in
Alexandria, Va, in 1880, and soon aft
erward constructed a telephone eX-
change there for the Southern Bell
Telephone and Telegraph Company
and was appointed manager.
Came to Atlanta in 1884.
His appointment to the manager
ship of the Atlanta exchange came in
1884 Six years later he was appoint
ed assistant superintendent of the
Georgia division Of the Bell system
in addition to his duties as manager
of the Atlanta exchange
He had charge of practically all oil
the construction work Of the South
ern Bell Company in Georgia, Alaba-
ma, South Carolina and Florida il
1898 and 1894 When the construction
department Of the company was or
sanized in 1895 he became genera.
superintendent of construction. In
1895 he became general superintend
ent of construction. In 1899 he was
appointed division superintendent
with headquarters in Atlanta.
Colonel Gentry was elected genera
manager on the resignation of c. Fl
Williams in 1901 He was chosen vice
president Of the Southern Bell in 1903
but continued as general manager
The growth of the business Required
the separation of these offices in 1906
and he relinquished the duties of gem
eral manager, continuing as vice pres
ident.
His election to the presidency took
place in 1909. Two years ago he was
elected also as president Of the Cum
berland Telephone and Telegraph
Company. He holds both of these Of
fees now He is vice president OF the
Telephone Pioneers of America, and
has been many times honored for his
ability and expert knowledge.