Palmer, Charles D. (Charles Day), 1902-1999

Charles Day Palmer, Jr. (b. Feb. 20, 1902, Chicago, Ill.-d. June 7, 1999, Washington, D.C.), U.S. Army general, graduated from West Point in 1924. When the U.S. entered World War II, he was stationed in the British West Indies working on anti-submarine warfare projects, and in 1944 served as chief of staff, 2nd Armored Division, in Europe, participating in the Normandy invasion. Later in 1944 he took part in the invasion of southern France as chief of staff, VI Corps. In 1950, he was stationed in Japan with the 1st Cavalry Division, serving as artillery commander, then commander, and participating in six Korean War campaigns. Prior to the General's retirement in 1962, he served as deputy commander of American forces in Europe.

Charles Douglas Palmer, a transportation company executive, was born in Erie, Pa., on March 27, 1900, son of Franklin A. and Anna M. (Bates) Palmer. He was a student at Carnegie Institute of Technology (1919) and studied civil engineering at Cornell University (1922). On January 10, 1929, he married Dorothy Snelbaugh; they had one daughter, Gloria. Palmer was an engineer for the Pennsylvania Railroad from 1922-1923, the Pittsburgh Railways Company (now Pittway Corporation) from 1924-1926. But Palmer is most known for his involvement with the Port Authority of Allegheny County where he served in many capacities, such as: a research engineer from 1926-1934, a commercial manager from 1934-1950, president from 1951-1966, vice chairman of the board in 1966, senior vice president in 1970, and member of the PAT Board from 1968-1973. While serving on the Port Authority Board, Palmer helped to establish transportation initiatives such as the Early Action Program and the Transit Expressway. The emphasis of the Early Action Program was the use of a SKYbus, a light-weight, electrically-powered, computer controlled vehicle that travels above ground. The goal of the program was to combine the SKYbus with other transit programs resulting in an efficient transportation system. Palmer also initiated the Transit Expressway or PATways project during this time, which was a 60-mile, county-wide, rapid transit network. The goal of the project was the creation of two PATways, one serving the south and one serving the east. To expediate travel, the Port Authority constructed bus-highways or transit expressways that would transport people to downtown Pittsburgh in a matter of minutes. Apart from his professional career Palmer was a Mason, a Rotarian, and a member of the Pittsburgh Convention Bureau (director), Duquesne Club, University Club, and St. Clair Country Club.