Ralph W. Nicholson

Born in Chicago, Nicholson graduated from the University of Chicago and began his professional career at that institution in the university's public relations office.^[2] He then worked as an advertising executive for General Electric before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps in 1941.^[2] He worked as an instructor in anti-aircraft artillery at Quantico and as an Assistant Operations Officer under William J. Wallace at Pearl Harbor and in the Pacific theater during World War II; earning the commissioned rank of major. He was cited for outstanding service during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945.^[2]

Nicholson completed his military service in 1946, after which he became an advertising executive with Fuller & Smith & Ross, Inc. in New York City; eventually becoming vice president and Manager of the company.^[2] In 1960 he entered government service as a senior postal executive for the United States Postal Service during the John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson administrations; serving terms as Assistant United States Postmaster General for installations and logistics (1960-1969) and Senior Assistant United States Postmaster General over finance (1972-1975).^[3] From 1969 to 1972 he was vice president and Treasurer of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. From 1976 to 1981 he was the chief executive officer of Conrail.^[3]

Nicholson died in Marshall, Virginia on January 1, 1995. He was married to Rosemary Kleutgen Nichols for 52 years.^[3]