BIO: William Russell Willcox; New York State surname: Willcox submitted by W. David Samuelsen (no relation) *********************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.org/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.org/ny/nyfiles.htm *********************************************************************** An Illustrated Legislative Manual The New York Red Book Containing the Portraits and Biographies of the U.S. Senators, Governor, State Officers and Members of the Legislature; also with the Portraits of Judges and Court Reporters, the New Constitution of the State, Election and Population Statistics, and General Facts of Interest. By Edgar L. Murlin New Constitution Compiled by R. C. Cumming, O. L. Potter and F. B. Gilbert Published, Albany, J. B. Lyon Company, Publishers, 1909 Copyright by J. B. Lyon Company, 1909 William Russell Willcox Chairman of the Public Service Commission for t he First District, New York city, was born in Smyrna, Chenango County, N. Y. in 1863, and like many other men who have attained fame, passed his boy hood days on a farm. His early education was obtained in the schools of his native town and the State Normal School in Brockport, N. Y., and he ended his scholastic career at t he University of Rochester. Mr. Willcox for some time afterward served as principal of the Webster Academy and also the Spring Valley High School. In the interim he took up the study of law, was graduated with honors from Columbia Law School, and admitted to the bar in 1890. Public life always appealed to Mr. Willcox, and when he became a resident of New York city he was soon a prominent figure in legal and financial circles. Aside from this he devoted much of his spare time to educational and philanthropic work among the young people of the lower East Side of the city, which gained for him legions of friends. Being a prolific and logical writer on current topics he quickly became well known to the reading public. Mr. Willcox was a candidate for office in the fall of 1900, being the Republican nominee for Member of Congress in the old Thirteenth District New York against Oliver H. P. Belmont. The district was overwhelmingly Democratic, but owing to the popularity of. Mr. Willcox the normal majority was reduced more than half. Mayor Low the following year ap appointed Mr. Willcox a Park Commissioner, and be served for two years as President of the Board. His constructive and demonstrative work was an innovation, and among other imimprovements he established playgrounds for the children, and to this day some of his embryonic plans are being carried out. It was owing to his efforts that Seward Park, which cost the city about two million dollars, was opened. and in addition he established many gymnasiums in the public recreation places of the city. He also established DeWitt Clinton, Civic and Thomas Jefferson parks and suggested the creation of large Park reservations on Staten Island, including one just below Fort Wadsworth, where it was his idea to have a great site reserved with free bath houses for the use of the people. All of the roadways in Central Park were rebuilt under his administration, and more trees were planted than in the ten years preceding his appointment as Park commissioner. Mr. Willcox was also intrusted with unusual responsibilities in the direct ion of large expenditures pertaining to the construction of the Public Library in Bryant Park, the addition to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the extensions of the American Museum of Natural History. Mr. Willeox was appointed Postmaster of New York city by President Roosevelt, to succeed the late Cornelius Van Cott, and during the two and a half years he occupied that office many reforms were instituted which called forth much hearty commendation. It was with the greatest reluctance that President Roosevelt accepted the resignat ion of his personal friend, to permit him to enter his present field of labor. Coveriwr Hughes appointed Mr. Willcox, on July 1, 1907, Chairman of the Public Service Commission for the First District, which covers all the territory within the confines of Greater New York. and the appointment was generilly approved. Mr. Willcox, aside from directing the general work of the Commission, has personally conducted investigations of the traction companies which caused so many startling exposures. Mr. Willcox cannot be considered in any sense a muckraker. He is simply an official who performs his duty as he sees it, and in probing the financial side of these multifariously woven corporations to ascertain their physical condition, it uncovered the methods employed in high finance juggling. Mr. Willcox's personality has made him many friends. He is genial, and a most engaging conversationalist. his decisive and democratic way of disposing of intricate propositions appeals to those most interested and displays his good business sense. Although Mr. Willcox is a thoroughly domestic man, he finds time to attend public functions and receives many requests to make speeches. Since assuming the chairmanship of the Public Service Commission he has been compelled to refrain from speaking, partly from fear of being misinterpreted in his printed sayings and owing to the burdensome work he has dedicated to himself. Mr. Willcox is a member of the Union League, Century, Republican and New York Yacht climbs, Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity, the Bar Asso ciation and the Chamber of Commerce.