James Gordon Steese

Background

Steese, James Gordon was born on January 21, 1882 in Mount Holly Springs, Pennsylvania, United States. Son of James Andrew and Anna Zug (Schaeffer) Steese.

Education

Studied University of California. Graduated from the United States Engineer

Career

Assistant engineer San Diego and San Francisco bays, California, 1907-1908. Assistant engineer Panama Railroad Company and Panama Canal, 1908-1912. Chief engineer 5th (expeditionary) Brigade, Texas, 1913.

Instructor and assistant professor engineering, United States Military Academy, 1913-1917.

Special representative of general manager West Maryland. Railway, June-September 1916.

Organized O.T.C., Fort Riley, Kansas, and instructor Engineer O.T.C., Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, 1917. Assistant chief of engineers, United States Army, 1917-1918.

Detailed on General Staff and chief of section, September 1918-June 1920.

Special mission to Adriatic and Balkan countries, 1919. President Alaska Road Commission, 1920-1927, also chief engineer, 1924, 27. District and acting division engineer for rivers and harbors, Alaska District, 1921-1927.

Construction engineering Department Commerce, 1921-1927, also for Ty. of Alaska, 1921-1923.

Member special commission to investigate Russian, Japanese, and American fur seal rookeries, June-September 1922. Director public works, Alaska, 1923-1927.

Chairman Alaska Railroad, 1923-1924, also chief engineer, March-October 1923. With Gulf Oil Corporation as general manager foreign subsidiary company, 1927-1932.

Chairman of the Board and president Guajillo Corporation and affiliated companies, 1932-1941.

President Slate Creek Placers, Incorporated., 1936-1941. Recalled to active duty, Corps of Engineers, United States Army, detailed as assistant engineer of maintenance, Panama Canal, and assistant to Second vice president Panama Railway Company, January 1941-March 1946. Assistant to Governor, Panama Canal and assistant to president, Panama Railway Company, 1946-1947.

Construction engineering North. American Carolina Corporation, 1947-1950.

Lieutenant general aide-de-camp to Governor of Alaska, 1953-1955. Brigade, general, aide-de-camp, Alaska National Guard, 1935-1937.

In charge President Harding’s tour of Alaska, 1923. Trustee Dickinson College, since 1919, Amelia South. Givin Free Library, since 1921.

Achievements

• James Gordon Steese has been listed as a noteworthy civil engineer by Marquis Who's Who.

Membership

Fellow Royal Geography Society (London), American Geography Society, American Association for the Advancement of Science. Member American Society of Civil Engineers (life), Society American Military Engineers, Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Sigma, American Legion. Mason (33°), Elk.; Clubs: Army and Navy (Washington).

Connections

Father:

James Andrew Steese

Mother:

Anna Zug (Schaeffer) Steese