Alan Stephenson Boyd

United States Secretary of Transportation

July 20, 1922

Jacksonville, Florida, United States

He was the first United States Secretary of Transportation, appointed by Lyndon Johnson. Additionally, he served in executive positions with the Civil Aeronautics Board, the United States. Department of Commerce, and was a president of National Railroad Passenger Corporation. He joined the United States Army Air Forces in 1942 and remained there through the end of the war. Boyd married, the former Flavil Juanita Townsend on April 3, 1943. They had one son, Mark Boyd. He was two grandchildren, Heather and Alan Boyd. The latter was named after him. After leaving the service in 1945, Boyd returned to college and received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1948. Early positions Boyd practiced law in Florida, and was on a commission exploring the regulation of the transportation industry. He was promoted to chairman of that board by United States President John F. Kennedy. He helped the airline industry by standardizing fare reductions and by approving government subsidies to encourage airline service for smaller cities. He was appointed undersecretary of commerce for transportation in 1965 by Lyndon Johnson. He was unpopular with labor leaders when he advocated reducing government restrictions on the maritime industry, and when he denounced featherbedding by railroad workers. Boyd was part of a committee that lobbied for the creation of the United States Department of Transportation, bringing together many government agencies related to the transportation industry. Secretary of Transportation Boyd became the first Secretary of Transportation in November 1966. In that capacity he worked in many areas including airports, the air traffic control system, automobile safety, driver education, alcoholism, and the highway beautification program (a pet project of first lady Lady Bird Johnson). One of his sources of power was holding funding control over the interstate highways. He was unsuccessful in trying to encourage passenger train service. When Richard Nixon became as the United States President in January 1969, Boyd left the Transportation Department to become the president of the Illinois Central Railroad, a position he held from 1969 to 1972. The federal government investigated the potential conflict of interest because that railroad had received aid from Boyd"s department before he resigned, but no wrongdoing was foundation Boyd was later the president of National Railroad Passenger Corporation until June 20, 1982, and the president of Airbus Industrie. In 1979 he became the chairman of Warner Blue & Mahan, a Washington, District of Columbia based consulting firm working on new technology ventures. Later work Boyd retired to Florida and later moved to Edmonds, Washington. The citation read: ". . for his lifelong service to aviation, including shaping policy in the United States." Since the death of Nicholas Katzenbach in May 2012, Boyd has been the earliest surviving former United States. Cabinet member.

Alan Stephenson Boyd

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United States Secretary of Transportation

Background

Boyd, Alan Stephenson was born on July 20, 1922 in Jacksonville, Florida, United States. Son of Clarence and Elizabeth (Stephenson) Boyd.

Education

Student, University Florida, 1941. Bachelor of Laws, University Virginia, 1949. Doctor of Laws (honorary), Marshall University, 1968.

Doctor of Laws (honorary), Drexel Institute, 1968. Doctor of Laws (honorary), Florida State University, 1969. Doctor of Laws (honorary), University Florida, 1994.

Career

He was the first United States Secretary of Transportation, appointed by Lyndon Johnson. Additionally, he served in executive positions with the Civil Aeronautics Board, the United States. Department of Commerce, and was a president of National Railroad Passenger Corporation. He joined the United States Army Air Forces in 1942 and remained there through the end of the war.

Boyd married, the former Flavil Juanita Townsend on April 3, 1943.

They had one son, Mark Boyd. He was two grandchildren, Heather and Alan Boyd.

The latter was named after him. After leaving the service in 1945, Boyd returned to college and received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1948.

Early positions

Boyd practiced law in Florida, and was on a commission exploring the regulation of the transportation industry.

He was promoted to chairman of that board by United States President John F. Kennedy. He helped the airline industry by standardizing fare reductions and by approving government subsidies to encourage airline service for smaller cities. He was appointed undersecretary of commerce for transportation in 1965 by Lyndon Johnson.

He was unpopular with labor leaders when he advocated reducing government restrictions on the maritime industry, and when he denounced featherbedding by railroad workers.

Boyd was part of a committee that lobbied for the creation of the United States Department of Transportation, bringing together many government agencies related to the transportation industry. Secretary of Transportation

Boyd became the first Secretary of Transportation in November 1966.

In that capacity he worked in many areas including airports, the air traffic control system, automobile safety, driver education, alcoholism, and the highway beautification program (a pet project of first lady Lady Bird Johnson). One of his sources of power was holding funding control over the interstate highways.

He was unsuccessful in trying to encourage passenger train service.

When Richard Nixon became as the United States President in January 1969, Boyd left the Transportation Department to become the president of the Illinois Central Railroad, a position he held from 1969 to 1972. The federal government investigated the potential conflict of interest because that railroad had received aid from Boyd"s department before he resigned, but no wrongdoing was foundation Boyd was later the president of National Railroad Passenger Corporation until June 20, 1982, and the president of Airbus Industrie.

In 1979 he became the chairman of Warner Blue & Mahan, a Washington, District of Columbia based consulting firm working on new technology ventures.

Later work

Boyd retired to Florida and later moved to Edmonds, Washington. The citation read: ".

. for his lifelong service to aviation, including shaping policy in the United States."

Since the death of Nicholas Katzenbach in May 2012, Boyd has been the earliest surviving former United States. Cabinet member.

Achievements

Alan Stephenson Boyd has been listed as a noteworthy United States Secretary of Transportation by Marquis Who's Who.

Membership

Chairman board trustees National Trust History Preservation, 1980-1987. Served to captain major United States Air Force. Member of Metro., Burning Tree.

Interests

Reading, golf.

Connections

Married Flavil Juanita Townsend, April 3, 1943. 1 son, Mark Townsend.

Father:: Clarence Boyd
Mother:: Elizabeth (Stephenson) Boyd
Spouse:: Flavil Juanita Townsend

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