{{short description|American public servant and academic}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2019}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = William Ronan | image = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1912|11|8}} | birth_place = [[Buffalo, New York]], U.S. | death_date = {{Death date and age|2014|10|15|1912|11|8}} | death_place = [[West Palm Beach, Florida]] U.S. | occupation = | office = 1st Chairman of the [[Metropolitan Transportation Authority]] | term_start = March 1, 1968 | term_end = April 26, 1974<ref name=mta-timeline>{{cite web |url=https://new.mta.info/transparency/leadership/past-board-chairs |title=Past MTA Board Chairs |author=Metropolitan Transportation Authority |author-link=Metropolitan Transportation Authority |access-date=February 21, 2020}}</ref> | predecessor = Position established | governor = [[Nelson Rockefeller]]<br>[[Malcolm Wilson (governor)|Malcolm Wilson]] | successor = David L. Yunich | office1 = Chairman of the [[Port Authority of New York and New Jersey]] | governor1 = [[Hugh Carey]] | term_start1 = 1974 | term_end1 = 1977 | predecessor1 = [[James C. Kellogg III]]<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lVWSpqwqX8AC&pg=PR12|title=Empire on the Hudson: Entrepreneurial Vision and Political Power at the Port of New York Authority|isbn=9780231076760|last1=Doig|first1=Jameson W.|year=2001|publisher=Columbia University Press }}</ref> | successor1 = [[Alan Sagner]] | office2 = Secretary to the [[Governor of New York]] | governor2 = [[Nelson Rockefeller]] | term_start2 = 1958 | term_end2 = 1968 | ethnicity = | spouse = Elena Vinadé (d. 1996) | children = | parents = }}
'''William John Ronan''' (November 8, 1912 – October 15, 2014) was an American public servant and academic who founded and served as the first chairman of [[New York City]]'s [[Metropolitan Transportation Authority]], from 1968 to 1974. He subsequently served as chairman of the [[Port Authority of New York and New Jersey]] from 1974 until 1977 and remained on the board of the Port Authority until 1990.<ref name="Obituary">{{cite news|last = Chan|first = Sewell|title = William J. Ronan, Architect of the M.T.A., Dies at 101|newspaper = [[The New York Times]]|page = A18|date = 2014-10-17|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/18/nyregion/william-j-ronan-architect-of-the-metropolitan-transportation-authority-dies-at-101.html?_r=0|access-date = 2014-10-23}}</ref><ref name="Eye on the News">{{cite news|last = Gelinas|first = Nicole|title = Savior of the Subways|newspaper = [[City Journal (New York City)|City Journal]]|date = 2014-10-23|url = http://www.city-journal.org/2014/eon1023ng.html|access-date = 2014-10-24}}</ref> Prior to entering state government as a key aide to Governor [[Nelson Rockefeller]] of New York in 1958, he was a professor of government at [[New York University]] and served as dean of NYU's graduate school of public service from 1953 to 1958.<ref name="Obituary"/><ref name="In Memoriam">{{cite news|last = Vlachou|first = Marita|title = In Memoriam: Former Wagner Dean|newspaper = [[Washington Square News]]|date = 2014-10-22|url = http://www.nyunews.com/2014/10/22/in-memoriam-former-wagner-dean/|access-date = 2014-10-24}}</ref>
==Early life and education== William John Ronan was born in [[Buffalo, New York]] to William and Charlotte Ronan (née Ramp). His father was a businessman and his mother was a homemaker. He was raised [[Episcopalian]] and was of [[Irish people|Irish]]-[[Alsace|Alsatian]] descent. Both parents were "fervent" [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]].<ref>William J. Ronan, Architect of the M.T.A., Dies at 101</ref> Ronan graduated from [[Syracuse University]] in 1934, and earned a doctoral degree from [[New York University]] in international law and diplomacy. He became dean at NYU and helped establish the Wagner School of Public Service from 1953 to 1958.<ref>{{cite web|title=First Chairman of MTA William Ronan Passes Away at Age 101|url=http://www.mta.info/news-william-ronan-bill-ronan-second-avenue-subway-chairman/2014/10/17/first-chairman-mta-William|date=October 17, 2014|publisher=Metropolitan Transportation Authority}}</ref>
==Career== Ronan helped found the Tri-State Transportation Commission. In 1965, he was appointed the first Chairman of the [[Metropolitan Transportation Authority|Metropolitan Commuter Transportation Authority]] by Governor [[Nelson Rockefeller]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1965/06/22/106994685.pdf|title=ROCKEFELLER NAMES RONAN TO RAIL JOB; Aide to Governor to Head New Agency at $45,000|date=June 22, 1965|work=The New York Times|access-date=January 31, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The newly formed MCTA purchased the [[Long Island Rail Road]] from the [[Pennsylvania Railroad]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1966/01/21/89643178.pdf|title=STATE TAKES OVER THE L.I. RAIL ROAD; Finishes Paying the Pennsy --Re-elects All Officers|date=1966|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 1, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
On February 29, 1968, the MCTA published a 56-page report for Governor Rockefeller, and in it, proposed several subway and railroad improvements under the name "[[Program for Action|Metropolitan Transportation, a Program for Action]]".<ref name="int-arch">{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/metropolitantran00newy/metropolitantran00newy_djvu.txt|title=Full text of "Metropolitan transportation, a program for action. Report to Nelson A. Rockefeller, Governor of New York."|date=November 7, 1967|website=Internet Archive|access-date=October 1, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=crQiAQAAMAAJ|title=Annual Report|publisher=Metropolitan Transportation Authority|year=1970|access-date=October 1, 2015}}</ref><ref name="nyt19680229-Bennett">{{cite web|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1968/02/29/77174646.pdf|title=Transportation Funding Would Have 4 Sources; Plan's Financing Would Be Varied|last1=Bennett|first1=Charles G.|date=February 29, 1968|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=October 11, 2015}}</ref><ref name="nyt19680229-Witkin2">{{cite web|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1968/02/29/77174644.pdf|title=$2.9-BILLION TRANSIT PLAN FOR NEW YORK AREA LINKS SUBWAYS, RAILS, AIRPORTS; 2-PHASE PROPOSAL Program by Governor Calls for $1.6-Billion in First 10 Years 2-PHASE PROPOSAL FOR TRANSIT GIVEN|last1=Witkin|first1=Richard|date=February 29, 1968|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=October 11, 2015}}</ref> Chairman Ronan pushed for the MTA to pursue the Program for Action, saying, "We're making up for 30 years of do-nothingism".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1968/08/25/91290212.pdf|title=Ronan Lays Transit Crisis To a 30-Year Lag in City; Ronan Lays Transit Crisis to 30-Year Lag in City|date=August 25, 1968|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 1, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The next day, the MCTA dropped the word "Commuter" from its name and became the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). The MTA took over the operations of the other New York City-area transit systems and Ronan became chairman of the MTA.<ref name="QnsGazette-QnsPubTrans-51stBDay-2015">{{cite web|url=http://www.qgazette.com/news/2015-07-15/Front_Page/Happy_51st_Birthday_To_Queens_Public_Transportatio.html|title=Happy 51st Birthday To Queens Public Transportation|last1=Penner|first1=Larry|date=July 15, 2014|publisher=Queens Gazette|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912111108/http://www.qgazette.com/news/2015-07-15/Front_Page/Happy_51st_Birthday_To_Queens_Public_Transportatio.html|archive-date=September 12, 2015|url-status=live|access-date=November 1, 2015}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1968/03/02/79934932.pdf|title=M.T.A. TAKES OVER TRANSIT NETWORK; Moses Will Be Kept On as Consultant to Agency|date=March 2, 1968|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 1, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
During Ronan's tenure, the MTA oversaw the construction of three lines as part of the Program for Action: the [[63rd Street Lines|63rd Street Line]],<ref name="LeaderObs-63rdStTunnel-Nov201969">{{cite news|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/viewer/?file=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspapers%252023%2FForest%2520Parkway%2520NY%2520Leader%2520Observer%2FForest%2520Parkway%2520NY%2520Leader%2520Observer%25201969-1971%2FForest%2520Parkway%2520NY%2520Leader%2520Observer%25201969-1971%2520-%25200628.pdf&highlightsFile=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2Fhighlighter%2Fhits%2F816c7feba198b14dee5deb0dc12d134f#page=1|title=To Break Ground For 63rd St., East River Tunnel|date=November 20, 1969|work=New York Leader-Observer|access-date=July 29, 2016|agency=[[Fultonhistory.com]]|page=8}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/viewer/?file=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspapers%252023%2FForest%2520Parkway%2520NY%2520Leader%2520Observer%2FForest%2520Parkway%2520NY%2520Leader%2520Observer%25201969-1971%2FForest%2520Parkway%2520NY%2520Leader%2520Observer%25201969-1971%2520-%25200638.pdf&highlightsFile=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2Fhighlighter%2Fhits%2Fb737dbe8fb6270b05a71c876f5469313#page=1|title=Laurino, Hails Tunnel As Key To Queens Future|date=November 27, 1969|work=New York Leader-Observer|access-date=July 29, 2016|agency=[[Fultonhistory.com]]|page=2}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/viewer/?file=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252018%2FLockport%2520NY%2520Union%2520Sun%2520Journal%2FLockport%2520NY%2520Union%2520Sun%2520Journal%25201969%2FLockport%2520NY%2520Union%2520Sun%2520Journal%25201969%2520-%25206018.pdf&highlightsFile=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2Fhighlighter%2Fhits%2Fe0170be19d717ad1f9c15e3c48933505#page=1|title=Subway Tunnel Started|author1=Associated Press|author-link=Associated Press|date=November 24, 1969|work=[[Lockport Union-Sun & Journal]]|access-date=July 29, 2016|agency=[[Fultonhistory.com]]|location=New York City|page=17}}</ref> part of the [[Second Avenue Subway]],<ref>[http://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/Second_Avenue_Subway:_Timeline Second Avenue Subway: Timeline]. Retrieved April 7, 2014.</ref><ref name="mtasas">{{cite web|url=http://web.mta.info/capconstr/sas/background.html|title=Second Avenue Subway|website=web.mta.info|publisher=Metropolitan Transportation Authority|access-date=April 7, 2014|archive-date=April 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408220035/http://web.mta.info/capconstr/sas/background.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> and, the [[Archer Avenue Lines|Archer Avenue Line]].<ref name="MTA-Halfway-19732">{{cite book|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015023095485;view=1up;seq=49|title=1968–1973, the Ten-year Program at the Halfway Mark|publisher=Metropolitan Transportation Authority|year=1973}}</ref> The MTA also shut down the [[IRT Third Avenue Line|Third Avenue elevated line]] in the Bronx.<ref>{{cite web|title=The New York Transit Authority in the 1970s|url=http://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/The_New_York_Transit_Authority_in_the_1970s|publisher=nycsubway.org}}</ref>
==Later life== After stepping down from the Port Authority, Ronan left public life, retiring to [[Florida]], became a widower after his wife of 57 years, the former Elena Vinadé, died in 1996. He died of natural causes at his house in [[West Palm Beach]], Florida, on October 15, 2014, at the age of 101.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/18/nyregion/william-j-ronan-architect-of-the-metropolitan-transportation-authority-dies-at-101.html|title=William J. Ronan, Architect of the M.T.A., Dies at 101|last=Chan|first=Sewell|date=2014-10-17|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-02-07|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
==See also== * [[Howard S. Cullman]] * [[Austin Tobin]] * [[Christopher O. Ward]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}} {{MTA Chairman}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ronan, William}} [[Category:1912 births]] [[Category:2014 deaths]] [[Category:New York University faculty]] [[Category:American men centenarians]] [[Category:Syracuse University alumni]] [[Category:New York University School of Law alumni]] [[Category:Executives of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority]] [[Category:Chairmen of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey]]