Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1924-04-24
KEPT ON WORKING

Pat Crowley wanted a job.
He was Ia years old, had just finish
ed eight grades of grammar school,
and because most of the men folks in
his family were railroaders, Pat natur
ally turned his boyish blue eyes to-
ward the railroad yards.
1t was necessary for Pat to go to
work, so he went down to see the yard
master. Perhaps it was his earnest
ness anyhow. he got job as mes
senger boy, salary SIS month, hours
Z a. m. to 8 p. m.-which meant that
Pat must get up at $50 every morn
ing.
That was as years ago in Pats little
home - n of Cattarangus, N. Y, on
the Erie Railroad.
Today, at a salary of perhaps $780,
900 a monitor more than 100000
per year. more money than is paid
the President of the United States, Pat
rirk E. Crowley is still railroading-
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 at
one, appears rather shy and emDar-
raised at being interviewed. AS a
working man, he isn't accustomed to
such publicity-but when asked ques
ton 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. It 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 graf financier to get the job How
ever, the directors hued. to the New
York Central policy of choosing an
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
success unavoidable like all
earnest workers surprised that there
should be glory to his achievements
Starting as a messenger boy at ii,
Mr.. Crowley had learned the code
and was a telegrapher at Is. Two
years later he was made train dis
patcher. During the next nine years
he did much hard workout did it
so well that he was made train mas
ter. Then at 81 he married. Ten years
later, at 81, he was promoted-made
superintendent of division and the
home folks thought Pat Crowley had
reached the top.
But young Crowley kept on working
and in three years attracted the at
tention of the general superintendent
and was made assistant to him.
Three years later, when he was 4S,
Mr.. Crowley was made assistant gen
eral manager. Five years of work at
the job and he was made general man
ager, in 1912.
1t was then but step to be an as
sistant to vice president, and he was
rewarded two years later. In 1916,
age SO, he was elected vice-president
which job he handled so thoroughly
that his election-at 60-to the presi
dency last week. was inevitable.
Mr.. Crowley has just one hobby. 1t
is 'Railroading"-he says.