Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-03-07
George Keneipp Dies;
City Troffic Director

Traffic Director George e.
Keneipp died last night Of can
Ger in Doctors Hospital here.
He was So years old.
His death came two weeks
after he was hospitalized. He
had been critically Ill for more
than two months.
Mrs. Keneipp said her hus-
band never knew the cause Of
his illness. He had expressed
concern about the amount Of
sick leave time he was taking,
she said.
Mr.. Keneipp was often
called "the most criticized
man in Washington" He took
this unenviable distinction phil
osophically and placed promin-
emily over his desk in the Num-
cipal Center a framed state
ment reading: "When I'm right.
nobody remembers: when I'm
wrong, nobody forgetS."
He was appointed director Of
Motor Vehicles and Traffic on
May is. 1916. by the District
Commissioners.
The public soon got in the
habit of blaming. Mr.. Keneipp
for most. if not all, of Washing
tons traffic problems, especially
the colossal tie-ups that often
occur when snow hits the city
in any quantity.
He also gained a considerable
reputation as a flre-eating cru
sader who had declared about
war on reckless and drunken
motorists. as we'll as those who
disregard pedestrians rights.
The latter reputation was de-
served. People who met Mr..
Keneipp for the frs. time were
invariably surprised to find that
he was medium size, soft spok-
en-, courteous, genial.
Born in Chicago in 1899, he
was brought to Washington by
his parents when he was two.
He went to the Dennison
Kindergarten School, then to
Langdon Elementary School.
In 1927 he became manager
of the District of Columbia
Division of the American Auto
mobile Club. In 1884 he became
manager of the Southern Divi-
sion of the Keystone Automo-
bile Club. From this position he
took leave of absence in March
1943. to take the post of deputy
director of Civil Defense here
In January, 1914, he returned
to his Keystone job. In 1916
he was put in charge of Wash
ington's traffic woes.
Held Many Posts
At various times in his career
he was vice chairman of the
District Traffic Advisory Coun.
Gil, chairman of the Public
Schools and Insurance Com.
mittees of the Washington
Board Of Trade. a director Of
the Board of Trade, treasurer
and director of the Washing
ton Executives Association
secretary of Section A of the
Presidents Highway Safety
Conference, president of the
Municipal Luncheon Club
chairman Of the Committee or
Engineering and Vehicle In
spection of the American Asso-
citation of Motor Vehicle Ad-
ministrators, chairman of the
Executive Committee of the Ma.
tional Committee on Uniform
Traffic Laws and Ordinances
and a member Of Kiwanis anc
Almas Temple.
When he took Office as traffic
director. Mr.. Keneipp tackled
his huge problems with zest
and an astonishing flow Of
ideas.
ID. C.'S worst Intersection"
In June, 1916. a month aftel
he became traffic director, HI
took a reporter to see what HI
called 1.-The worst intersection
in town." Georgia and Eastern
avenues NV.
1t was then. in his words
actually one of the worst in
tersections in the entire world
A 1,250-car-an-hour crossing
with no traffic lights. The troll
leys turn one way, the buse!
another and private vehicles il
all directions"
BY the time a year had rolleC
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