A. D. Shepard

Abraham Dummer Shepard (1852-1925) was an executive in the Southern Pacific Company for almost 30 years, rising to the position of General Freight Agent. In 1902 he became the Secretary and General Manager of the Pacific Improvement Company, the land holding company established by the "Big Four" railroad executives. The railroads had been sold to Edward Henry Harriman (1848-1909) and the land holdings were becoming a tax burden so Shepard was responsible for increasing profitability by developing or selling the land. He designed the scenic parts of 17 Mile Drive on the Monterey Peninsula. Shepard retired in 1915. After his death several university buildings and endowed professorships were created to memorialize him.