Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 September 1914 — KURRIE LANDS PRESIDENCY. [ARTICLE]

KURRIE LANDS PRESIDENCY.

Rensselaer Man Now at the Head of the Monon Railway System. At a meeting of the board of directors of the Monon railroad in New York City Thursday afternoon, H. R. Kurrie. of Rensselaer, general solicitor for the company, was elected president to succeed Fredric A. Delano, who recently resigned to accept a position on the federal reserve board. Mr. Kurrie’s many friends here will be pleased to learn of his selection for this important position and extend to him hearty congratulations.

Harry R. Kurrie was born at Paoli, Ind., April 26, 1875. He went through the schools of that town and in 1592 entered Indiana university, taking the law course and graduating in 1895. After graduation he came to Rensselaer and entered the law office of Thompson Bros. In November, 1906, he became the junior member of the law partnership of Foltz. Spitler & Kurrie, which succeeded Thompson Bros. He remained with this firm until February, 1902. when he became assistant general solicitor of the Monon railroad. He held that position until January 1, 1910, when l.e was made the general attorney of the road, which office he has since held. He has been twice married, both of his wives having been daughters of the late Judge Simon P. Thompson. The first wife died a few years ago and some two years later he married her sister, Miss Edna Thompson, and they have two small^'children as a result of this union.

While Mr. Kurrie has been associated with the legal department of the road for the past twelve years, he has found the time and inclination to observe the working of other departments and has made the business a study in detail and as a whole. He has acquired much valuable information and is regarded as one of the best informed railroad men in the country. Mr. Kurrie had charge of all of the legal matters pertaining to the purchase of the Gifford line and was insfrumenttal in placing a loan of $4,000,000 for the Monon railroad. It was this financial feat that brought him conspicuously to the attention of the directors of the road and had something to do with elevating him to the presidency of the Monon system. Fredric A. Delano, who is succeeded by Mr. Kurrie as president, was favorable to the advancement o.' Mr. Kurrie, and Fairfax Harrison, who was president before Mr. Delano, regards Mr. Kurrie as a thorough and very capable railroad man.

Mr. Kurrie has made marvelous advancement in thC railroad world. A man less than 40 years old, he has stepped from a modest law practice in a small city to the position of chief executive of one of the most substantial railroad systems in the country. He has absorbed the ideas of his predecessors and is familiar with their plans. He knows by what means the Monon railroad has been placed In its present prosperous condition and knows what the plans are for the future. No man could have been selected who is better fitted to give an intelligent administration, to guard the interests and pron ote the welfare of the Monon system, .le is keen and shrewd and Is a man of great executive ability. He has a pleasing personality, personal magnitlsm, and is so much a self-made man that he can govern kindly but firmly and prove an ideal executive.