Edward T. Donahue was a member of the Milwaukee County Expressway Commission from
January 25, 1962 until his sudden death on December 5, 1966 at the age of 61. He was
Secretary of the Commission in 1965 and Vice-chairman in 1966. He graduated from
Riverside High School in 1923 and from Marquette Law School in 1927. He became
Secretary and Assistant to the President of Blatz Brewery in 1948. When the Pabst
Brewing Company obtained Blatz in 1958, Mr. Donahue became a Vice-president of the
company, which position he retained until his death.
Freeway construction in the Milwaukee area began after World War II as automobile
purchases increased and urban sprawl drew residents outward from the city to the
suburbs. Experts believing expressway systems were crucial for urban survival and
growth led to Milwaukee’s major expressway construction project. The project was
controversial due to its destruction of historic neighborhoods and homes in addition
to its contribution towards urban decentralization.
