John J. Pelley

John Jeremiah Pelley (May 1, 1878 – November 12, 1946) was an American railroad executive. He started as station clerk of the Illinois Central Railroad, and rose up the ranks to become the railroad's vice president in charge of operations. He then served as president of the Central of Georgia Railway from 1926 to 1929 and president of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad from 1929 to 1934. From 1934 to his death, he served as president of the Association of American Railroads.

Early life John Jeremiah Pelley was born on May 1, 1878, in Anna, Illinois, to Mary (née Anders) and Joseph Pelley. His father served in the Confederate Army. Pelley was educated at public schools in Anna and graduated from Anna High School and was captain of the school's football team. He attended the University of Illinois. He taught algebra and geometry at Anna High School for three years. In 1905, he transferred to the Memphis division of the Illinois Central and served as assistant roadmaster in Clarksdale from 1906 to 1907. From 1908 to 1910, he was roadmaster and worked in McComb, Mississippi. In 1910, he moved to New Orleans and in 1911, he moved to Fulton, Kentucky, continuing to work as roadmaster of the Memphis division. He was then promoted to superintendent and remained in Fulton until he moved to Memphis, Tennessee, in 1915 to continue as superintendent. In 1915, he was appointed superintendent of Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad. On August 1, 1917, he became general superintendent of the southern lines of Illinois Central. He was appointed as general superintendent of the northern lines of Illinois Central in 1919. From 1920 to 1923, he was chairman of the committee on car service (later merged into the Association of American Railroads) in Chicago. He was the general manager of the Illinois Central from 1923 to 1924 and then served as vice president in charge of operations of the line until September 15, 1926.

In 1926, Pelley succeeded Lawrence A. Downs as president of the Central of Georgia Railway, a subsidiary of Illinois Central, and the Ocean Steamship Company of Savannah, Georgia. He served as president until February 1929 and was succeeded by Albert Earl Clift. Pelley then served as president of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, succeeding Edward J. Pearson, until 1934. On October 12, 1934, he joined the Association of American Railroads as its first president and continued in that role until his death. During World War II, he was a liaison between government agencies and railroads. He was an avid golfer. The family lived on Prospect Street in New Haven, Connecticut.

Awards and recognition Pelley was on the front page of Time magazine on February 8, 1937. In December 1937, it was announced that the railroad station in Anna, Illinois, would be named Pelley Station after him.

In November 1945, Pelley received a certificate of appreciation for his service from the United States Department of War. On March 1, 1946, he received the treasury silver medal for distinguished wartime work. On March 8, 1946, Pelley received a medal for merit from President Harry S. Truman for his coordination with the government during World War II.