W. FRANK KNOX. As one of the chief railroad centers of the southwest, Dallas has long enjoyed the presence among her local citizenship of able representatives of the railroad world, and these railroad officials have not only occupied prominent places because of their business rank and responsibilities, but have been among the most enterprising and public-spirited contributors to the greatness and growth of the city. One of the best known of the railway officials who now have their headquarters and residence in Dallas is Mr. W. Frank Knox, who is secretary and treasurer of the Gulf, Texas & Western Railroad.

Mr. Knox is a native of New York City, where he was born May 27, 1865. He comes of a prominent family of merchants in that city. His parents were William G., and Belinda (Henderson) Knox His father built up and for many years conducted a large and prosperous wholesale dry goods house in New York city, and finally retired in 1900 from his business career, and is now living in the metropolis at the age of seventy-eight.

W. Frank Knox attended the College of the City of New York, and after leaving college entered the export commission business as a buyer for one of the largest houses in that line in New York City. With the varied experience in commercial affairs, Mr. Knox came to Texas in 1889 to take up his duties as treasurer of the New Birmingham Iron & Land Company, which established its offices in Cherokee county. Mr. Knox continued to make his home in this county until 1902, at which date he moved to Tyler in Smith county, where he formed a law partnership with Ben B. Cain. These two gentlemen who are now so well known in railroad circles of north Texas were engaged in the practice of law at Tyler, until 1909. Since then both of them have been prominently connected with the Gulf, Texas & Western Railroad, Mr. Knox being elected secretary and treasurer of the company at that time, and still occupying that position. Towards the close of 1912 Mr. Knox was one of the influential group of citizens who organized the Merchants National Bank at Dallas, and on its organization he was made its active vice president.

Mr. Knox was married in Tyler, Texas, November 25, 1896, to Miss Mittie Alford, a daughter of Benjamin and Mania Alford. They are the parents of two children: W. Frank Jr., who was born June 20, 1901, and Helen Barrett, born May 24, 1907.