E. Virgil Conway
Encyclopedia
E. Virgil Conway is an American attorney, banker, philanthropist and civic leader who served as chairman and CEO of the New York State Metropolitan Transportation Authority
from 1995 to 2001. The MTA is the umbrella organization for the various agencies that operate the public transportation systems in the 14-county metropolitan New York City area. The operating agencies are: New York City Transit, Metro-North Railroad, Long Island Railroad, Long Island Bus, and Bridges and Tunnels. Mr. Conway, at his request, served without compensation. He is currently chairman of Rittenhouse Advisors and a member of the board of Urstadt Biddle Properties.
Before his appointment as MTA Chairman by Governor George E. Pataki, Conway was a member of the MTA Board. He currently serves as a member of the New York State Thruway Authority.
Conway has served on the boards of the Union Pacific Corporation, Consolidated Edison
, Atlantic Mutual Insurance Company
, the mutual funds managed by the Phoenix Home Life Mutual Insurance Company, and Trism, Inc., as well as several other companies. He served as chairman of the New York City Housing Partnership, chairman of the Audit Committee of the City of New York, a member of the Westchester County Industrial Development Agency, and a member of the board of trustees of Colgate University and Pace University
. He also served as chair of the Financial Accounting Standards Advisory Council (FASAC).
Conway has served as chairman and president for Seaman's Bank for Savings, as vice chairman of the New York City Partnership and Chamber of Commerce and Industry, First Deputy Superintendent of Banks of the State of New York, and chairman of the Temporary State Commission on the Water Supply Needs of Southeastern New York.
Conway grew up in Montauk, New York
where his father, E. V. Conway was controller for Carl Fisher's Montauk Beach Company.
Conway graduated magna cum laude from Colgate University
in 1951, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and was initiated into Phi Kappa Tau
Fraternity. He graduated cum laude from Yale University Law School in 1956 and was also awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws from Pace University
in 1990 and from Colgate University in 2002 and an honorary doctor of humane letters from the State University of New York at Stonybrook in 1998. He served as an officer in the United States Air Force
during the Korean War
and is a retired Captain of the United States Air Force Reserve.
As a philanthropist, Conway and his wife, Elaine have funded the visitors center at the Montauk Point Lighthouse
and scholarship funds at Colgate University, the Yale Law School and Pace University.
He received the Gold Medal from The Hundred Year Association of New York
in 1986 and the association's annual E. Virgil Conway College Scholarships are awarded to the sons and daughters of New York City employees every year in honor of Conway, who conceived of the scholarship program in 1971. He received the Ellis Island
Medal of Honor in 1998 as well as honors and awards from many other charitable and educational institutions.
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New York)
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York is a public benefit corporation responsible for public transportation in the U.S...
from 1995 to 2001. The MTA is the umbrella organization for the various agencies that operate the public transportation systems in the 14-county metropolitan New York City area. The operating agencies are: New York City Transit, Metro-North Railroad, Long Island Railroad, Long Island Bus, and Bridges and Tunnels. Mr. Conway, at his request, served without compensation. He is currently chairman of Rittenhouse Advisors and a member of the board of Urstadt Biddle Properties.
Before his appointment as MTA Chairman by Governor George E. Pataki, Conway was a member of the MTA Board. He currently serves as a member of the New York State Thruway Authority.
Conway has served on the boards of the Union Pacific Corporation, Consolidated Edison
Consolidated Edison
Consolidated Edison, Inc. is one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the United States, with approximately $14 billion in annual revenues and $36 billion in assets...
, Atlantic Mutual Insurance Company
Atlantic Mutual Insurance Company
The Atlantic Mutual Insurance Company is a mutual insurance company which offers personal, marine, commercial property, and casualty insurance. It is part of the Atlantic Mutual Companies, which includes Centennial Insurance Company...
, the mutual funds managed by the Phoenix Home Life Mutual Insurance Company, and Trism, Inc., as well as several other companies. He served as chairman of the New York City Housing Partnership, chairman of the Audit Committee of the City of New York, a member of the Westchester County Industrial Development Agency, and a member of the board of trustees of Colgate University and Pace University
Pace University
Pace University is an American private, co-educational, and comprehensive multi-campus university in the New York metropolitan area with campuses in New York City and Westchester County, New York.-Programs:...
. He also served as chair of the Financial Accounting Standards Advisory Council (FASAC).
Conway has served as chairman and president for Seaman's Bank for Savings, as vice chairman of the New York City Partnership and Chamber of Commerce and Industry, First Deputy Superintendent of Banks of the State of New York, and chairman of the Temporary State Commission on the Water Supply Needs of Southeastern New York.
Conway grew up in Montauk, New York
Montauk, New York
Montauk [ˈmɒntɒk] is a census-designated place that roughly corresponds to the hamlet with the same name located in the town of East Hampton in Suffolk County, New York, United States on the South Shore of Long Island. As of the United States 2000 Census, the CDP population was 3,851 as of 2000...
where his father, E. V. Conway was controller for Carl Fisher's Montauk Beach Company.
Conway graduated magna cum laude from Colgate University
Colgate University
Colgate University is a private liberal arts college in Hamilton, New York, USA. The school was founded in 1819 as a Baptist seminary and later became non-denominational. It is named for the Colgate family who greatly contributed to the university's endowment in the 19th century.Colgate has 52...
in 1951, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and was initiated into Phi Kappa Tau
Phi Kappa Tau
Phi Kappa Tau is a U.S. national collegiate fraternity.-History:Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity was founded in the Union Literary Society Hall of Miami University's Old Main Building in Oxford, Ohio on March 17, 1906...
Fraternity. He graduated cum laude from Yale University Law School in 1956 and was also awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws from Pace University
Pace University
Pace University is an American private, co-educational, and comprehensive multi-campus university in the New York metropolitan area with campuses in New York City and Westchester County, New York.-Programs:...
in 1990 and from Colgate University in 2002 and an honorary doctor of humane letters from the State University of New York at Stonybrook in 1998. He served as an officer in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
and is a retired Captain of the United States Air Force Reserve.
As a philanthropist, Conway and his wife, Elaine have funded the visitors center at the Montauk Point Lighthouse
Montauk Point Lighthouse
The Montauk Point Light is a lighthouse located in Montauk Point State Park at the easternmost point of Long Island, in the Town of East Hampton, Suffolk County, New York...
and scholarship funds at Colgate University, the Yale Law School and Pace University.
He received the Gold Medal from The Hundred Year Association of New York
The Hundred Year Association of New York
The Hundred Year Association of New York, founded in 1927, is a non-profit organization in New York City aimed at recognizing and rewarding dedication and service to the City of New York by businesses and organizations that have been in operation in the city for a century or more and by individuals...
in 1986 and the association's annual E. Virgil Conway College Scholarships are awarded to the sons and daughters of New York City employees every year in honor of Conway, who conceived of the scholarship program in 1971. He received the Ellis Island
Ellis Island
Ellis Island in New York Harbor was the gateway for millions of immigrants to the United States. It was the nation's busiest immigrant inspection station from 1892 until 1954. The island was greatly expanded with landfill between 1892 and 1934. Before that, the much smaller original island was the...
Medal of Honor in 1998 as well as honors and awards from many other charitable and educational institutions.