Young, Robert Ralph

Young, Robert Ralph

(1897–1958) railroad executive, financier; born in Canadian, Texas. A financial manager turned stockbroker and speculator, he purchased the Alleghany Corporation, thus gaining control of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad (1933). As chairman (1942–54), he was a leader in the modernization of U.S. railroads. After a highly publicized proxy fight, he gained control of the New York Central (1954).