D'Alton Corey Coleman

D'Alton Corey Coleman

D'Alton Corey Coleman, railway executive (b at Carleton Place, Ont 9 July 1879; d at Montréal 17 Oct 1956). After acting as private secretary to Senator George Cox in 1897 and as editor of the Belleville Intelligencer, Coleman joined the CPR in 1899. He advanced rapidly and before turning 40 was put in charge of CPR's western lines. He presided over a great expansion in which 3520 km of track were added in branch lines. In 1934 Coleman became VP of the whole company and, as the health of president Sir Edward BEATTY deteriorated, increasingly took over his duties. Coleman was appointed president in 1942 and chairman in 1943. The company was then engaged not only in railway work but in war production, shipping and air traffic. Under Coleman, Canadian Pacific Airlines was organized. He retired in 1947.