Healy, Kent Tenney, 1902-

Kent T. Healy was born in Chicago on February 2, 1902. He received his B.A. from Harvard in 1921, and his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from M.I.T. in 1923. Healey was an assistant professor of transportation at Yale from 1928-1937, an assistant professor of political economy from 1937-1938, an assistant professor of economics from 1938-1940, an associate professor from 1940-1945, and the Thomas DeWitt Cuyler Professor of Transportation from 1945-1970.

Kent Tenney Healy was born in Chicago, IL on February 2, 1902. A recognized expert in transportation economics, he taught at Yale University from 1934-1970. Due to his expertise, he often served as a consultant to many United States government agencies or as a member of various commissions from 1940-45. He also participated in state and local government planning and financial management especially in Killingworth, CT. Mr. Healy served as a director of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Co., 1947-48 and the Connecticut Co., 1947-64.

Commission on Reorganization of State Departments, 1935-1937. Special Act No. 242 of 1935 established a five member commission appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the General Assembly to study the "organization, powers and duties, personnel and expenditures" of each agency and prepare recommendations and propose legislation. The commission held its first meeting in Governor Wilber Cross' office on June 21, 1935. Col. Thomas Hewes served as chairman. The commission appointed Benjamin P. Whitaker, Research Director, on July 1, 1935. A small staff and a number of expert consultants prepared the report, approved by the commission, for submittal to the governor on January 25, 1937. The General Assembly extended the commission authorization to March 30, 1937. Even after that date, the commission members and the Research Director provided advice and assistance to the governor and the General Assembly.

State Planning Board. Advisory Committee on Transportation, ?-1936. The State Planning Board adopted a policy of appointing advisory committees to assist the board and its staff in developing research studies. The Transportation Committee consisted of the Highway Commissioner, the Motor Vehicle Commissioner, and a member of the Public Utilities Commissioner. The committee was to make the state's transportation program more definite and practical, review past accomplishments, draw up plans for further work and prepare and interpret a report for the State Planning Board. On April 10, 1935, the committee issued "Transportation in Connecticut. Part I: Passenger Transportation." There is no evidence that it issued any other parts.

Highway Advisory Committee, 1943-1945. Special Act 456 of 1943 directed the governor to appoint a five member committee to study and advise the highway commissioner concerning post-World War II highway improvements, the problem of just and equitable distribution of highway funds for cities and towns, problems with the system, the departments procedures and practices and existing laws to determine what is desirable for an efficient highway program. Highway Commissioner William J. Cox, first mentioned such a committee in his biennial report to the governor for 1939-1940. He again recommended the committee to Governor Baldwin in December 1942. Baldwin put the recommendations into his inaugural speech and saw it through the General Assembly. After hearing testimony from the Highway, Motor Vehicle and State Police departments and inspecting the new Fairfield County route (I-95) to replace Route 1, the committee submitted its report to the governor in December 1944.

Savings Banks' Railroad Investment Committee, 1945-1963. The General Assembly created a six member committee to certify railroad company bonds as eligible for investment by savings banks for the banking commissioner. The governor appointed members to three-year terms from nominations given him by the Executive Committee of the Savings Banks' Association of Connecticut, the Banking Commissioner, the Executive Committee of the Connecticut Bankers Association, and the Executive Committee of the Savings Banks' Deposit Guaranty Fund of Connecticut. A nominee had to be either a bank officer or director or trustee of one of the above organizations or its members. The statute allowed reimbursement of travel expenses only to be paid by the Savings Banks' Association. In 1961, the General Assembly changed the committee's name to the Railroad Legal Investment Commission. In 1963, it disbanded the committee and placed its responsibilities solely with the banking commissioner.