Thomas Smith Carter Jr. (June 6, 1921 – March 12, 2019) was an American engineer. He served as the thirteenth president of Kansas City Southern Railway, from 1973 to 1986. Carter was born in Dallas, Texas to Thomas Smith and Matilda (née Dowell) Carter. He served in the Army Corp of Engineers during WWII in the South Pacific. He attended Southern Methodist University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering in 1944. He worked his way up in the railroad industry, ultimately becoming Chairman, President and CEO of the Kansas City Southern Railroad. He retired in 1990 and served as a director for 5 more years. He also attended the University of Kansas and earned his master's degree in engineering management in 1991. Carter has worked as an engineer for the Louisiana