Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press., 1924-04-24
Patrick E. Crowley Reaches
Top; Is Railvay President
New President of N. Y. Central Got
job" as Railroad Messenger Boy at
Age of IA and "Just Kept on Work
ing; Another Example of American
Hustle.
Written Specially for The Leader
By ROBERT FULLER
(ThrI Autoca Ster Servicel

L III AulOCdSlCI SGIVlCGJ
NEW YORK, April 23-Pat Crow
ley wanted job. He was Ia years
old, had just finished eight grades OF
grammar school, and because most OF
the men folks in his family were rail
readers Pat naturally turned his boyish
eyes toward the railroad yards.
1t was necessary for Pat to go tc
work, so he went down to see the
yard master. Perhaps it was his earn
estness-anyhow, he got job as mes
senger boy, salary S. a month, hours
a. m to 9 p. m.-which meant that
little Pat must get up at $50 every
morning.
This was 46 years ago in Pats little
home town of Cattarangus, N. Y. on
the Erie railroad
Today, at a salary of perhaps $10,-
900 a monitor more than $120,O0C
per year, more money than is paid the
president of the United States, Pat
rick E. Crowley is still railnoading-
working every wakeful hour. He is
the new President of one of the worlds
greatest railroad lines-the New York
Central.
Modest In Success
Patrick E. Crowley, pausing long
enough to receive reporters, is sur.
prised that his arrival in the presi-
dency of this great transportation line
interests the world and that it is in
terpreted as success. This small man
with bristling gray eyebrows from be-
meath which, mild blue eyes look al
one, appears rather shy and embarr.
assed at being interviewed. AS a work
ing man, he isn't accustomed to such
publictty-but (whkn asked a ques
tlon he answered directly in the soft
firm voice of working man who
knows his job. Asked about himself
well-"there isn't anything to tell =
he had just gone to work-and kept
on working" 1t is necessary to prompt
Mr.. Crowley to get facts about him
self.
First-the selection of Mr.. Crowley
to fill the vacancy caused by the sud.
den death of the late President Smith
was a surprise to some who expected
a great financier to get the job. How
ever, the directors hued to the New
York Central policy of choosing ar
operating" man for the Presidency
and Mr.. Crowley was the logical man
Briefly told, the life story of Mr.
Crowley is of another American boy
who, through knowing his job, honest
work and perseverance, has found sue
cess unavoidable, and, like all earnest
workers, surprised that there should
be glory to his achievements.
How Crowley Did 1t
Starting as messenger boy at H.
Mr.. Crowley had learned the "code'
and was telegrapher at 16. Two years
later he was made train dispatcher
During the next nine years he did
much hard work but did it so well
that he was made train master. Then
at II he married. Ten years later al
81, he was promoted made super
intendent of a division and the home
folks thought Pat Crowley had reach
ed the top.
But young Crowley kept on work
ing and in three years, attracted the
attention of the general superintend
ent, and was made assistant to him
Three Years later, when he was 43 Mr.
Crowley was made assistant genera
manager. Five years of work at the
job and he was made general mana
ger, in 1912
1t was then but a step to be an as.
sistant to vice-president, and he was
rewarded two years late In 1916, age
81, he was elected vice-president which
job he handled so thoroughly that his
election at 90, to the presidency last
week was inevitable.
Mr.. Crowley has just one hobby. Il
is "Railroadinp"-he saws.