About Harry A. DeButts
Lived 1895 – 1983 (aged 87–88). Harry A. DeButts was an American businessperson.
Harry Ashby DeButts (October 13, 1895 – August 27, 1983) was a president of Southern Railway in the United States. He was succeeded by D. William Brosnan in 1962.
deButts graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 1916 and joined Southern Railway that year. He served in the United States Marine Corps in World War I and then returned to Southern Railway, where he spent the remainder of his career. He became President of the company in 1952 and Chairman of Board on February 1, 1962, before retiring in November of that year. He died in Upperville, Virginia.
Norfolk Southern's DeButts Yard, located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, was named in his honor.
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Important facts
People in Harry A. DeButts's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Harry A. DeButts's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Harry A. DeButts?
American railroad executive (1895–1983)
When was Harry A. DeButts born?
Harry A. DeButts was born in 1895.
When did Harry A. DeButts die?
Harry A. DeButts died on 27 August 1983.
What was Harry A. DeButts's occupation?
Harry A. DeButts was a businessperson.
What nationality was Harry A. DeButts?
Harry A. DeButts was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Harry A. DeButts. https://biography.guide/harry-a-debutts/
MLA: "Harry A. DeButts." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/harry-a-debutts/.
Chicago: "Harry A. DeButts." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/harry-a-debutts/.
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