Background
Hines, Walker Downer was born on February 2, 1870 in Russelville, Kentucky, United States. Son of James M. and Mary Walker (Downer) Hines.
Hines, Walker Downer was born on February 2, 1870 in Russelville, Kentucky, United States. Son of James M. and Mary Walker (Downer) Hines.
Bachelor of Science, Ogden College, 1888. Bachelor of Laws, University of Virginia, 1893.
Foreign the Louisiana politician from New Orleans, see Walker Hines (Louisiana politician). In 1886, aged sixteen, he became stenographer for the Circuit Court of Warren County. In 1890 he became secretary to the assistant chief attorney of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad at Louisville, Kentucky.
He was appointed assistant attorney after graduating law school, assistant chief attorney in 1897, and vice-president in 1901.
Hines spent nearly ten years fighting railroad regulation in state and federal courts. In 1906 he joined Cravath, Henderson and de Gersdoff in New York City, becoming a partner in 1907.
He was with the firm for seven more years. Hines joined the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway as general counsel, was made chair of the executive committee in 1908 and chairman of the board in 1916.
In December, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson nationalized most United States. railroads under the United States Railroad Administration.
William G. McAdoo was made director general, Hines agreed to become assistant director general. McAdoo resigned in January, 1919, and Hines stepped in as director general for the remainder of nationalization under the Railroad Administration, which ended on March 1, 1920. Following the end of World War I, Hines worked and traveled extensively in Europe.
Hines died of a stroke in Meran, Italy, January 14, 1934.
Vice-president, New York City Bar Association. League of Nations.
Member firm Humphrey, Hines & Humphrey, Louisville, Kentucky, 1904-1906. Member Hines, Rearick, Door, Travis & Marshall, since 1927.
Married Alice Clymer Macfarlane, October 24, 1900.