Epes Randolph (August 16, 1856 – August 22, 1921) was an American civil engineer and businessman who constructed railroads in America's South, Ohio, Arizona, California, and Mexico. From 1905 to 1907 he led the successful effort to restore the Colorado River to its banks after irrigation canal construction and flooding diverted it from the Gulf of California and into California's Imperial Valley, creating the Salton Sea. Randolph spent his later life in Tucson, Arizona, where he served as president of several railroads, as vice-president of Tucson's Consolidated National Bank, and as chancellor of the University of Arizona Board of Regents.
Early life
Randolph was born in Lunenburg County, Virginia. His parents were also natives of Virginia, his father, William Eston Randolph, having been born in Clarke County, and his mother, Sarah Lavinia Epes, in Lunenburg County.
Career
Railroad
Between the years 1876 and 1885, Epes Randolph worked for several railroads performing location, construction, and maintenance. Railroads he worked for included the Alabama Great Southern Railroad, the Chesapeake, Ohio & Southwestern, and the Kentucky Central. From 1885 to 1890 Randolph was chief engineer of the Kentucky Central R.R., headquartered in Covington, Kentucky. He was also chief engineer of Cincinnati Elevated Railway, Transfer & Bridge Company. Both companies were owned by Collis P. Huntington. From 1886 to 1889 Randolph oversaw the construction of the C&O Railroad Bridge, a double track railway, highway, and foot traffic bridge across the Ohio River, connecting Covington, Kentucky, with Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1890 Randolph became chief engineer and superintendent of the Newport News & Mississippi Valley Co., the Ohio & Big Sandy Railroad Co. and the Kentucky & S. Atlantic Railroads. During this time he acquired the reputation of being an effective and efficient railroad head. From 1891 to 1894 Randolph was chief engineer and general superintendent of the Chesapeake, Ohio & Southwestern Railroad.
In 1894 he developed tuberculosis. He resigned, moved west and for a year worked as a consulting engineer to several railroads while recuperating. He first lived in Indio, California, before moving to Tucson, Arizona, in August 1895 when he became the superintendent for the Southern Pacific Railroad lines from El Paso to Los Angeles. Randolph held this position until 1901. Concurrently he was manager of the Los Angeles Railway & the Pacific Electric Railway. 700 miles of electric lines were built and operating. Randolph served as president of the Los Angeles Railway and the Pacific Electric Railway from 1901 to 1904. He then assumed the role of vice president and general manager.
From 1904 to 1909 Randolph served as vice president and general manager of the Gila Valley, Globe and Northern Railway and the Maricopa, Phoenix & Salt River Valley Railroad Co. In June 1909 he became the general manager of the Cananea, Yaqui River & Pacific R.R. Co. in Mexico. All three railroads were owned by E. H. Harriman.
In 1905 Harriman, president of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, asked Randolph to lead the task of closing a breach in the Colorado River. Randolph did so while bedridden in his private railway car the "Pocahontas". After two years and thousands of tons of rock being poured in the breach was closed on February 10, 1907.
In 1911 Randolph became president of the Southern Pacific Railroad of Mexico and Arizona Eastern Railway. He held these positions until his death in 1921.
Other
In 1904 Randolph and Levi Manning, Tucson's mayor from 1905–1907, partnered to build the upscale Santa Rita Hotel, said at the time to be the most modern hotel in the Southwest. Randolph occupied a suite at the Santa Rita at the time of his death. Randolph was president of the California Development Company, a project to irrigate desert land in eastern California.
Civic activities
Epes Randolph was a life member of the Elks lodge, an honorary 33d degree Mason, and president of the Old Pueblo Club at the time of his death.
Epes Randolph became a member of the University of Arizona Board of Regents in 1916, and was president of the Board of Regents and chairman of the executive committee at the time of his death.