William Francis Deegan
Encyclopedia
William Francis Deegan (December 28, 1882 – April 3, 1932) was an architect
, Major
in the Army Corps of Engineers, and Democratic
political leader in New York City
.
and at age 25 served in World War I
as a staff officer in the 105th Field Artillery.
Deegan later joined the United States Army Corps of Engineers
as a Major
, where he supervised the construction of military bases in the New York area under the command of General
George W. Goethals. After the war he helped organize the American Legion
in 1919, advancing to State Commander in 1921. Deegan worked as an architect at a number of distinguished firms, including McKim, Mead, and White
; Post, Magnicke and Franke; and Starrett and Van Vieck. Later in life he held a number of political positions, most of them in the Bronx
. Deegan was President of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce until the chamber grew critical of Mayor Jimmy Walker
, at which point he resigned. In 1928 Mayor Walker appointed him Tenement House Commissioner
of New York City – a post he was to hold for the rest of his life – and in 1930 Chairman of the Mayor's Committee on Receptions to Distinguished Guests
, or "official greeter", a job in which he was preceded by his friend Rodman Wanamaker
and eventually succeeded by Grover Whalen
.
Deegan died following an appendectomy on April 3, 1932.
. This was renamed and expanded in 1956 into the Major Deegan Expressway
section of I-87 in the Bronx, which retains his name.
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
, Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
in the Army Corps of Engineers, and Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
political leader in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Biography
He was born on December 28, 1882to Irish immigrants. He studied architecture at Cooper UnionCooper Union
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, commonly referred to simply as Cooper Union, is a privately funded college in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, United States, located at Cooper Square and Astor Place...
and at age 25 served in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
as a staff officer in the 105th Field Artillery.
Deegan later joined the United States Army Corps of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
as a Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
, where he supervised the construction of military bases in the New York area under the command of General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
George W. Goethals. After the war he helped organize the American Legion
American Legion
The American Legion is a mutual-aid organization of veterans of the United States armed forces chartered by the United States Congress. It was founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress...
in 1919, advancing to State Commander in 1921. Deegan worked as an architect at a number of distinguished firms, including McKim, Mead, and White
McKim, Mead, and White
McKim, Mead & White was a prominent American architectural firm at the turn of the twentieth century and in the history of American architecture. The firm's founding partners were Charles Follen McKim , William Rutherford Mead and Stanford White...
; Post, Magnicke and Franke; and Starrett and Van Vieck. Later in life he held a number of political positions, most of them in the Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
. Deegan was President of the Bronx Chamber of Commerce until the chamber grew critical of Mayor Jimmy Walker
Jimmy Walker
James John Walker, often known as Jimmy Walker and colloquially as Beau James , was the mayor of New York City from 1926 to 1932...
, at which point he resigned. In 1928 Mayor Walker appointed him Tenement House Commissioner
Tenement House Commissioner
New York City Tenement House Commissioner* William Francis Deegan * Thomas Crowell Taylor Crain 1904 to 1905....
of New York City – a post he was to hold for the rest of his life – and in 1930 Chairman of the Mayor's Committee on Receptions to Distinguished Guests
Mayor's Committee on Receptions to Distinguished Guests
The New York City Mayor's Committee on Receptions to Distinguished Guests was established on September 6, 1919, to "provide adequate welcome and reception to foreign dignitaries, accredited representatives of European governments and other distinguished guests who may visit New...
, or "official greeter", a job in which he was preceded by his friend Rodman Wanamaker
Rodman Wanamaker
Lewis Rodman Wanamaker was a Republican and was a Presidential Elector for Pennsylvania in 1916. Wanamaker created aviation history by financing a two plane experimental seaplane class in response to a prize contest announcement by London's The Daily Mail newspaper in 1913 – the flying boat...
and eventually succeeded by Grover Whalen
Grover Whalen
Grover Aloysius Whalen was a prominent politician, businessman, and public relations guru in New York City during the 1930s and 1940s.-Early years:Grover A. Whalen was born on June 2, 1886 in New York City...
.
Deegan died following an appendectomy on April 3, 1932.
Legacy
At the time a new road was being built from the Triborough Bridge to the Grand ConcourseGrand Concourse (Bronx)
The Grand Concourse is a major thoroughfare in the borough of the Bronx in New York City...
. This was renamed and expanded in 1956 into the Major Deegan Expressway
Major Deegan Expressway
The Major Deegan Expressway is a north–south expressway in the New York City borough of the Bronx...
section of I-87 in the Bronx, which retains his name.