William Deegan was born on December 28, 1882 to Irish immigrants. He studied architecture at Cooper Union. He married Violet Secor (1889-1969) and had one son, William Secor Deegan (1909-1985).
When the United States entered World War I, Deegan served as an officer in the 105th Field Artillery, rising to the rank of major. He later joined the United States Army Corps of Engineers where he supervised the construction of military bases in the New York area.
After the war he helped organize the American Legion in 1919, advancing to State Commander in 1921. In 1922 he was a candidate to become National Commander of the Legion at their convention in New Orleans, but was defeated due to his advocacy for admitting Black veterans into the organization. Advocating for the rights of Black people was a strong theme throughout Deegan's career.
Major Deegan worked as an architect at a number of distinguished firms. A Democrat, he held a number of political positions, most of them in the Bronx. In 1928, Mayor Jimmy Walker appointed him Tenement House Commissioner of New York City, a post he held for the rest of his life. In 1930 he was appointed chairman of the Mayor's Committee on Receptions to Distinguished Guests, often referred to as "Official Greeter."
Major William Deegan died of complications following surgery for an appendectomy on April 3, 1932, at age 49. After his death, his widow Violet married Albert W. Crouch (1882-1954).
At the time of his death, a new road was being built in the Bronx from the Triborough Bridge to the Grand Concourse. This was expanded in 1956 and renamed the Major Deegan Expressway section of the Interstate Highway 87.
William Deegan was born on December 28, 1882 to Irish immigrants. He studied architecture at Cooper Union. He married Violet Secor (1889-1969) and had one son, William Secor Deegan (1909-1985).
When the United States entered World War I, Deegan served as an officer in the 105th Field Artillery, rising to the rank of major. He later joined the United States Army Corps of Engineers where he supervised the construction of military bases in the New York area.
After the war he helped organize the American Legion in 1919, advancing to State Commander in 1921. In 1922 he was a candidate to become National Commander of the Legion at their convention in New Orleans, but was defeated due to his advocacy for admitting Black veterans into the organization. Advocating for the rights of Black people was a strong theme throughout Deegan's career.
Major Deegan worked as an architect at a number of distinguished firms. A Democrat, he held a number of political positions, most of them in the Bronx. In 1928, Mayor Jimmy Walker appointed him Tenement House Commissioner of New York City, a post he held for the rest of his life. In 1930 he was appointed chairman of the Mayor's Committee on Receptions to Distinguished Guests, often referred to as "Official Greeter."
Major William Deegan died of complications following surgery for an appendectomy on April 3, 1932, at age 49. After his death, his widow Violet married Albert W. Crouch (1882-1954).
At the time of his death, a new road was being built in the Bronx from the Triborough Bridge to the Grand Concourse. This was expanded in 1956 and renamed the Major Deegan Expressway section of the Interstate Highway 87.
Inscription
WILLIAM F.
DEEGAN
NEW YORK
MAJOR Q.M. CORPS
APRIL 3, 1932
Family Members
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Records on Ancestry
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1910 United States Federal Census
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New York, New York, U.S., Marriage License Indexes, 1907-2018
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New York, New York, U.S., Extracted Marriage Index, 1866-1937
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U.S., Newspapers.com™ Obituary Index, 1800s-current
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New York, New York, Index to Marriage Licenses, 1908-1910, 1938-1940
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