User:Zoberist/sandbox



= Leopold P. Oberst = Leopold Paul Oberst (November 18, 1918 – April 2, 1994) was an American Businessman and a  senior New York Telephone Company Executive in charge of operations and engineering for the City of New York. Throughout his career he received great notoriety for successfully managing major operational crisis for the New York Telephone Company and helping to manage the fiscal crisis for the City of New York.

Early Life
Leopold Oberst or "Leo" as he was often called, was born in the Bronx and graduated from Stuyvesant High School. He served in the New York National Guard. As an artillery officer, he developed a new way of rapidly calculating gun positions. His unit was activated at the outbreak of WWII. In WWII he served as a Major and commanded a heavy artillery battalion in the pacific. After the war he joined the New York Telephone Company as a switchman and studied engineering at nights at New York University. He rose through the ranks to become a Vice President.

New York Telephone Company Fire
A Second Avenue Central Office fire, described as the "worse in Bell System History" reportedly crippled phone service and impacted hospitals and schools. The 5 alarm blaze fought by 135 firefighters. The speed in which service was restored brought great acclaim. Prior to this event Oberst had already developed a reputation for his skill in operational crisis management.

New York City Fiscal Crisis
Late in his career and on loan from the New York Telephone Company, at full compensation, Oberst served as Director of Operations and a management expert under two New York City mayors, Mayor Abraham D. Beame and Mayor Edward I. Koch. He was also appointed to serve on the State Financial Control Board from 1979 - 1983 by then New York State Governor Hugh L. Carey.

Awards

 * New York City's Bronze Medallion for service.
 * Appointed to the Mayor's Management Advisory Board.
 * New York City's first Director of Operations.

Politics
Oberst played a prominent role on the New York City Financial Control Board until he and fellow private sector members were removed in 1983 after warning about about budget excess.