Markelle Fultz

Born on March 13, 1869, Fairfax Harrison was a prolific American lawyer and businessman who left an indelible mark in the railroad industry in the United States. Harrison started his illustrious career as a lawyer working at the Southern Railway Company in 1896. Over the years his work started getting noteworthy appreciation and only a decade later, in 1906, he was appointed the company’s vice-president of finance, a testament to his profound knowledge and work expertise.

However, it was in 1913 that Harrison’s career truly peaked when he was elected president of Southern, a position in which he could bring about significant influence and changes. During his tenure, he masterminded the expansion strategy of the company that resulted in stretching its network to a massive footprint of 8,000 miles across 13 states of America.

Historical events wielded their influence when America entered World War I and federal control was established over the railroads. The U.S. government ran the railroads via the United States Railroad Administration, a board on which Harrison was invited to serve. Despite the dramatic turn of events, he continued to strategically navigate alongside the changing times. The war eventually came to an end, and with it ended the federal control.

Post-war, Harrison adopted a novel approach to bring the railroad back to its former glory. One of his main initiatives was a comprehensive public relations campaign to reinvent the image of the railroad. Simultaneously, he focussed on technical advancements and introduced powerful engines to upgrade the locomotive stock. His forward-thinking strategy also included substantial increase in Southern’s railroad track along with extending the service area of the railway, a decision that significantly boosted Southern’s capabilities.

The Great Depression presented a period of struggle for the railroad industry. Keeping Southern afloat amidst the economic slowdown was no easy journey. Nevertheless, with sheer perseverance and strategic rebuilding, Southern managed to stabilize and was once again profitable by 1936. After an illustrious career and dedicated service that saw Southern Railway rise to new heights, Harrison retired in 1937. His retirement, unfortunately, was short-lived, and he passed away only three months later, on February 2, 1938. His death marked the end of a significant era in the Southern Railway’s history. His contributions to the railroad industry continue to be acknowledged and he is remembered as a stalwart figure cemented in its rich heritage.

Besides Harrison’s birthday, March 13th also celebrated the birth of another renowned personality, Ethel Reed. Born on the same day in 1874, Reed was an internationally recognized American graphic artist, whose work even today stands testimonial to her extraordinary talent. A photograph of Reed clicked around 1895 by Frances Benjamin Johnston graces the collection of the U.S. Library of Congress, a symbol of her unparalleled prowess in her field.

This biography has been crafted in the English language by volunteer editors as part of the Wikimedia Foundation Project. The foundation is a non-profit organization that hosts an array of volunteer projects including encyclopedias in multiple languages. Apart from English, some of the largest available Wikipedias are listed in several languages.