William Simpson Keller was Alabama's first Highway Engineer, and a half-brother of Helen Keller. He was born February 20, 1874, in Tuscumbia, Alabama. His mother died very young, and Helen was born several years later after his father remarried. W.S. Keller attended undergraduate school at the State Normal College at Florence. In 1893 he graduated with a B.C.E. degree from the University of Alabama. He married Aileen Walton Moore of Columbia, Tennessee, who died in 1912. In 1913 he married Abbie Search, the daughter of Dr. James Searcy.
He worked as an engineer in Alabama and Tennessee for several state and federal institutions prior to his appointment as state Highway Engineer of Alabama in 1911 (Owen 1921:959). He helped to organize the Highway Department in 1911 and was active as director until his death in Montgomery in 1925. He died on September 9 of a lingering illness, perhaps cancer. His residence in Montgomery was at 306 Felder Avenue, across from the Presbyterian Church where he was an elder. According to Helen Keller's niece, Mrs. Patty Johnson of Tuscumbia, the relationship between Helen and William Simpson was a close one, although correspondence between them has not been documented.
Keller was much esteemed during his life as a professional and as a warm and caring individual, and after his death for the contributions he made toward the development of North Alabama. He was elected as a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers on Jury 2, 1913. In 1939, his portrait was unveiled in the Highway Department Building, painted by Willie Gayle Martin of Shorter, Macon County, Alabama. His nickname was
"Simp" (personal communication Michael Breedlove).
From the text of the bronze commemorative plaque for the Keller Bridge in Decatur, it deserves quoting in full: "A native son in this Valley, First Chief Engineer of Alabama State Highway Department. One of America's pioneer road builders, a charter member and a president of The American Association of State Highway Officials, his personality, ability and character inspired to service, citizenship and manliness, and to him came the cooperation, honor and love of his associates. His vision and leadership laid the foundation for the highway system of Alabama, and this bridge is his realization
of one of its most important links"
He worked as an engineer in Alabama and Tennessee for several state and federal institutions prior to his appointment as state Highway Engineer of Alabama in 1911 (Owen 1921:959). He helped to organize the Highway Department in 1911 and was active as director until his death in Montgomery in 1925. He died on September 9 of a lingering illness, perhaps cancer. His residence in Montgomery was at 306 Felder Avenue, across from the Presbyterian Church where he was an elder. According to Helen Keller's niece, Mrs. Patty Johnson of Tuscumbia, the relationship between Helen and William Simpson was a close one, although correspondence between them has not been documented.
Keller was much esteemed during his life as a professional and as a warm and caring individual, and after his death for the contributions he made toward the development of North Alabama. He was elected as a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers on Jury 2, 1913. In 1939, his portrait was unveiled in the Highway Department Building, painted by Willie Gayle Martin of Shorter, Macon County, Alabama. His nickname was
"Simp" (personal communication Michael Breedlove).
From the text of the bronze commemorative plaque for the Keller Bridge in Decatur, it deserves quoting in full: "A native son in this Valley, First Chief Engineer of Alabama State Highway Department. One of America's pioneer road builders, a charter member and a president of The American Association of State Highway Officials, his personality, ability and character inspired to service, citizenship and manliness, and to him came the cooperation, honor and love of his associates. His vision and leadership laid the foundation for the highway system of Alabama, and this bridge is his realization
of one of its most important links"
William Simpson Keller was Alabama's first Highway Engineer, and a half-brother of Helen Keller. He was born February 20, 1874, in Tuscumbia, Alabama. His mother died very young, and Helen was born several years later after his father remarried. W.S. Keller attended undergraduate school at the State Normal College at Florence. In 1893 he graduated with a B.C.E. degree from the University of Alabama. He married Aileen Walton Moore of Columbia, Tennessee, who died in 1912. In 1913 he married Abbie Search, the daughter of Dr. James Searcy.
He worked as an engineer in Alabama and Tennessee for several state and federal institutions prior to his appointment as state Highway Engineer of Alabama in 1911 (Owen 1921:959). He helped to organize the Highway Department in 1911 and was active as director until his death in Montgomery in 1925. He died on September 9 of a lingering illness, perhaps cancer. His residence in Montgomery was at 306 Felder Avenue, across from the Presbyterian Church where he was an elder. According to Helen Keller's niece, Mrs. Patty Johnson of Tuscumbia, the relationship between Helen and William Simpson was a close one, although correspondence between them has not been documented.
Keller was much esteemed during his life as a professional and as a warm and caring individual, and after his death for the contributions he made toward the development of North Alabama. He was elected as a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers on Jury 2, 1913. In 1939, his portrait was unveiled in the Highway Department Building, painted by Willie Gayle Martin of Shorter, Macon County, Alabama. His nickname was
"Simp" (personal communication Michael Breedlove).
From the text of the bronze commemorative plaque for the Keller Bridge in Decatur, it deserves quoting in full: "A native son in this Valley, First Chief Engineer of Alabama State Highway Department. One of America's pioneer road builders, a charter member and a president of The American Association of State Highway Officials, his personality, ability and character inspired to service, citizenship and manliness, and to him came the cooperation, honor and love of his associates. His vision and leadership laid the foundation for the highway system of Alabama, and this bridge is his realization
of one of its most important links"
He worked as an engineer in Alabama and Tennessee for several state and federal institutions prior to his appointment as state Highway Engineer of Alabama in 1911 (Owen 1921:959). He helped to organize the Highway Department in 1911 and was active as director until his death in Montgomery in 1925. He died on September 9 of a lingering illness, perhaps cancer. His residence in Montgomery was at 306 Felder Avenue, across from the Presbyterian Church where he was an elder. According to Helen Keller's niece, Mrs. Patty Johnson of Tuscumbia, the relationship between Helen and William Simpson was a close one, although correspondence between them has not been documented.
Keller was much esteemed during his life as a professional and as a warm and caring individual, and after his death for the contributions he made toward the development of North Alabama. He was elected as a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers on Jury 2, 1913. In 1939, his portrait was unveiled in the Highway Department Building, painted by Willie Gayle Martin of Shorter, Macon County, Alabama. His nickname was
"Simp" (personal communication Michael Breedlove).
From the text of the bronze commemorative plaque for the Keller Bridge in Decatur, it deserves quoting in full: "A native son in this Valley, First Chief Engineer of Alabama State Highway Department. One of America's pioneer road builders, a charter member and a president of The American Association of State Highway Officials, his personality, ability and character inspired to service, citizenship and manliness, and to him came the cooperation, honor and love of his associates. His vision and leadership laid the foundation for the highway system of Alabama, and this bridge is his realization
of one of its most important links"
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