William S. Knudsen
William Signius "Big Bill" Knudsen (
March 25,
1879 -
April 27,
1948), was a leading automobile industry executive and a General in the U.S. Army.
Knudsen was born in
Denmark. His name was originally
Signius Wilhelm Poul Knudsen.He came to the
United States in
1900.Working first for the
Ford Motor Company and later for
General Motors, Knudsen became an expert on mass production and a skilled manager. Knudsen was president of
General Motors from 1937 to 1940.
In 1940,
President Roosevelt asked Knudsen to come to Washington to help with war production. In 1942, Knudsen was commissioned a
Lieutenant General in the U.S. Army. He worked as a consultant and troubleshooter for the War Department. He served in the Army until June 1, 1945.
Knudsen is the father of
Semon "Bunkie" Knudsen who became a prominent automobile industry executive.
* Beasley, Norman.
Knudsen: a Biography. (New York: Whittlesey House, 1947)
* "Knudsen, William S."
Current Biography, 1940:464-466.
* "Knudsen, William Signius."
American National Biographny, 12:843-844.
* "William Signius Knudsen."
Encyclopedia of American Business History and Biography: The Automobile Industry, 1920-1980. Pages 265-283.
