Francis Victor DuPont
Francis V. du Pont was a member of the famous Du Pont family of DuPont Chemical, based in Wilmington, Delaware, and an official connected with the development of public roads and highways in the United States.
The son of United States Senator T. Coleman du Pont, who was the president of DuPont Chemical, Francis Victor du Pont was a member of the Delaware State Highway Commission from 1922 to 1949. He also served as chairman of the commission. In this role, Du Pont played a major role in the development of the financing, engineering, and initial construction of the Delaware Memorial Bridge, the fifth longest suspension span in the world, which was opened to traffic on July 1, 1951. In 1953, he was appointed Commissioner of the US Bureau of Public Roads. While serving as Commissioner, he recommended a highway program that led to legislation under which the Interstate Highway System was constructed. He resigned his Federal post on January 1, 1956.
On May 16, 1962 Francis DuPont died from Lung Cancer.
