William J. Quinn 1911-2015
William J. Quinn, age 104, passed away peacefully on October 24, 2015, at Vi at the Glen Care Center in Glenview, IL surrounded by his family, formerly from Winnetka, IL. He was born on May 8, 1911 in St. Paul, MN. He is preceded in death by his father William, his mother Celina, his brother George, his sister Marie and his beloved wife of 65 years, Floy Isabel (Heinen) Quinn. He lived a full and interesting life.
Bill graduated from Cretin High School in St. Paul in 1929 and the enrolled at College of St. Thomas, where he was Captain of the Hockey Team, President of the Senior Class and the Student Council. He twice won the Northwest Colleges Debate Tournament. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from St. Thomas in 1933. In 1935 he graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School and entered private practice. In 1937, he became an Assistant United Sates Attorney in Minneapolis. In 1940, he moved to the Law Department of the Soo Line Railroad. There began a four decade career as a railroad man. In 1942, two important events occurred. While hospitalized for an appendectomy, he met Nurse Floy Heinen, who would become his wife and mother of their eight children. He also joined the FBI as counterespionage agent and later assisted in the capture of Germans in a submarine off the coast of Maine. After World War II, he returned to the Soo Line and eventually became its Vice President and General Counsel.
In 1954, Bill, Floy and their four sons moved to the Chicago area. At this point in his career Bill joined the Milwaukee Railroad as General Solicitor. In less than four years, at age 46, he was named the youngest President of the Milwaukee Road in its history. Four daughters were born in Winnetka, IL. In 1966, he walked across the street in Chicago and became President of the Chicago, Burlington, & Quincy Railroad. Later, when that railroad and two others merged to become the Burlington Northern Railroad, he was named the Vice Chairman of the new railroad. In 1970, he returned to the Milwaukee Road and became its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, a position he held until 1978.
He served on the board of Directors of the College of St. Thomas from 1963 to 1994, when he stepped down as its longest tenured member. He also served on the Board of Directors of Loyola University of Chicago from 1979 to 1992. Bill was very involved in civic and charitable activities in the Chicago area for many years as well as a member of Skokie Country Club in Glencoe, IL for 57 years.
He is survived by his children; William (Mary Lee), George (Audrey Bomstad). Patrick (Judie), Richard (Ann), Floy (Jack Laverty). Maureen (Mike Moore), Michaele (Allyn Hall) and Shannon (Jeff Norton) and 13 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren.
Services have been held.