Snow, John William (1939-…), served as United States secretary of the treasury under President George W. Bush from 2003 to 2006. Before serving in the Cabinet post, Snow headed CSX Corporation, a transportation company.
Snow was born on Aug. 2, 1939, in Toledo, Ohio. He received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Toledo in 1962 and a Ph.D. degree in economics from the University of Virginia in 1965. Snow taught economics at the University of Maryland from 1965 to 1967. In 1967, he earned a law degree from George Washington University Law School. After earning his law degree, he joined a law firm.
During the 1970’s, Snow held various posts with the U.S. Department of Transportation, including assistant general counsel and deputy undersecretary. He served as administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 1976 and 1977.
Snow joined Chessie System Railway in 1977. When Chessie merged with another company to form CSX Corporation in 1980, Snow became senior vice president for corporate services in the new company. He moved up through the company’s leadership ranks to become president and chief executive officer in 1989. In 1991, he took on the additional title of chairman. Snow held all three posts with CSX until he joined the Cabinet.
See also CSX Corporation ; Treasury, Department of the .
