Norris Roy Crump

Norris Roy Crump

Norris Roy Crump, railway executive (b at Revelstoke, BC 30 July 1904; d at Calgary 26 Dec 1989). Born into a railway family, Crump began with the CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY as a labourer in 1920, taking time off to study science at Purdue University. He graduated in 1929 and in 1936 received a master's degree. Crump was especially interested in the new diesel electric engines and it was becoming clear that the railway would have to confront "dieselization." Crump was promoted through the CPR's engineering departments and, as a senior executive, was responsible for the transcontinental flagship train, the Canadian . He became president in 1955 and chairman in 1961. Under him Canadian ownership of company stock rose from 15% in 1955 to 55% in 1965 and 63% in 1972. In 1962 Crump diversified the company by forming Canadian Pacific Investments to handle nontransport investments. The CPR named a railway car "Norris Crump," but it burned. He retired as president in 1964 and as chairman in 1972. In 1971 he became a Companion of the Order of Canada.