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Today in Interstate History

Federal Highway Administrator Rex Whitton being sworn in by Secretary of Commerce Luther H. Hodges, with Commerce Department Director of Personnel Management Carlton Hayward holding the bible. Photo courtesy of FHWA.

February 10, 1961

Rex M. Whitton was officially sworn in as the third Federal Highway Administrator. Whitton brought to the position 40 years of experience at the Missouri Highway Department -- the last 10 as that agency's Chief Engineer -- and a strong interest and involvement in the development of the Interstate System. As president of the American Association of State Highway Officials from 1955 to 1956, for example, he had promoted that program's authorization on Capitol Hill. Whitton's wholehearted support for the program would likewise characterize his tenure of nearly six years at FHWA.