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W. Graham Claytor

1886 – 1971

American businessman

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About W. Graham Claytor

Lived 1886 – 1971 (aged 84). W. Graham Claytor was an American businessperson.

William Graham Claytor (December 20, 1886 – February 28, 1971), of Roanoke, Virginia, was an American engineer and the vice president of Appalachian Power Company, an electric utility service.

He is best remembered for supervising the construction of the Claytor Dam and creation of a 4,500 acre (18 km2), 21 mile (34 km) long lake on the New River in Pulaski County, a hydroelectric project completed in 1939. The resultant Claytor Lake and surrounding Claytor Lake State Park in Virginia are named for him.

Claytor married Gertrude Harris Boatwright, a lyric poet who published two collections of her poems. Two of their three sons became well-known transportation administrators who led several large American railroads:

W. Graham Claytor Jr. (1912–1994) headed the Southern Railway and later Amtrak. Robert B. Claytor (1922–1993) was president of the Norfolk and Western Railway, and the first president of the new Norfolk Southern when it was created in 1982.

"The Claytor Brothers: Virginians Building America's Railroad" is a semi-permanent exhibit at the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke, Virginia.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Employers
American Electric Power
Also known as
William Graham Claytor

People in W. Graham Claytor's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped W. Graham Claytor's

Frequently asked questions

Who was W. Graham Claytor?

American businessman (1886-1971)

When was W. Graham Claytor born?

W. Graham Claytor was born on 20 December 1886.

When did W. Graham Claytor die?

W. Graham Claytor died on 28 February 1971.

What was W. Graham Claytor's occupation?

W. Graham Claytor was a businessperson.

What nationality was W. Graham Claytor?

W. Graham Claytor was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: W. Graham Claytor

· Wikidata: Q7945601

· DBpedia: W. Graham Claytor

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). W. Graham Claytor. https://biography.guide/w-graham-claytor/

MLA: "W. Graham Claytor." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/w-graham-claytor/.

Chicago: "W. Graham Claytor." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/w-graham-claytor/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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