Background
III, Prime Francis Osborn, was born on July 31, 1915 in Greensboro, Alabama, United States. Son of Prime Francis and Anne (Fowlkes) O.
III, Prime Francis Osborn, was born on July 31, 1915 in Greensboro, Alabama, United States. Son of Prime Francis and Anne (Fowlkes) O.
Juris Doctor, University Alabama, 1939. Doctor of Laws (honorary), University Alabama, 1970.
Assistant attorney general Alabama, 1939-1941; attorney, G.M.&O. R.R., 1946-1951; commerce attorney, G.M.&O. R.R., 1950-1951; general solictor, L&N R.R., 1951-1957; vice president, general counsel, director, A.C.L. R.R., 1957-1967; vice president, law director, Seaboard Coast Line Railroad Company, 1967-1969; president, Seaboard Coast Line Railroad Company, 1969-1978; chief Executive officer, Seaboard Coast Line Railroad Company, 1972-1986; Chairman of the Board, Seaboard Coast Line Railroad Company, 1978-1986; also board directors, Seaboard Coast Line Railroad Company president, SCL Industries, Inc., 1970-1978; chairman, chief Executive officer, SCL Industries, Inc., 1978-1986; president, chief Executive officer, Louisville & Nashville Railroad Company, 1972-1978; chairman, chief Executive officer, Louisville & Nashville Railroad Company, 1978-1980. Chairman of the Board CSX Corporation, 1980-1982. Board directors Ethyl Corporation.
Member national council, regional executive committee, regional chairman Boy Scouts American, 1965-1969. Board overseers, board directors Jacksonville University, Jacksonville Epsic. High School; chairman national advisory board Salvation Army, 1979-1983.
Chairman executive board St. Vincent's Hospital, from 1982. Member house deputies general convention Protestant Episcopalian Church American. Provincial chairman Episcopal Church Foundation Lieutenant colonel, artillery Army of the United States, 1941-1946.
With research Office Emergency Transportation Department Transportation. Member American Bar Association, Alabama Bar Association (award of merit 1976), Bar Association of City of New York, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Military Order Stars and Bars, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Order Constantine, Military Order World Wars, Sons of the American Revolution, Newcomen Society North America, National Defense Transportation Association (Man of Year 1980), Episcopal Men. of Kentucky (past president), Episcopal Men Alabama (past president), Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce (president from 1971, Committee of 100), Florida Council 100 Chamber of Commerce, Louisville Area Chamber of Chamber (board directors 1972-1974), Masons, Scabbard and Blade, Ponte Verde (Florida) Beach Club, River Club, Florida Yacht Club, Timuquana Country Club, Union League Club New York City, Metropolitan Club (Washington), Country Club of Virginia, Pendennis Club, Louisville Country Club, Augusta National Golf Club, Laurel Valley Country Club (Ligonier, Pennsylvania), Tournament Players Club, Rotary, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Omicron Delta Kappa, Tau Kappa Alpha, Alpha Kappa Psi (honorary), Beta Gamma Sigma (honorary).
Married Grace Hambrick, August 30, 1939. Children: Prime Francis IV, Mary Anne.