UP’s past CEO dies at age 89

As written by Railway Age: John Kenefick, who as president, chairman and CEO of Union Pacific led the railroad triumphantly through the challenging years prior to and just after passage of the Staggers Rail Act of 1980, died July 15 at the age of 89. He was president from 1971 to 1983 when he was named chairman and CEO. An industry giant, he guided the railroad with even temperament through stifling regulation and the threat of nationalization into a new age of health and competitive strength," said UP in an obituary posted on its website. Chairman Jim Young commented: "With great foresight, he strengthened our railroad and guided it through some of the most challenging times in our history. It is with great pride that we celebrate his memory and innumerable contributions to our company and community." Kenefick's tenure at UP saw the railroad increase its annual revenue from $1 billion to $8 billion and double its size with the 1982 Missouri Pacific and Western Pacific mergers. Kenefick supported financing in 1984 for "Project Yellow," a connector line with the Chicago & North Western that gave UP access to Wyoming's Powder River Basin coal mines. His guidance paved the way for mergers with the Chicago & North Western and the Missouri-Kansas-Texas, shortening UP's route from Kansas City to Fort Worth and on to the Gulf. Born Dec. 26, 1921, in Buffalo, New York, the son of an attorney, Kenefick attended Princeton University, concentrating his studies on mechanical engineering as World War II shortened his academic timeline. Graduating in 1943, he maintained a strong allegiance to the institution, acting later in life as a trustee emeritus and clerk of the board. Although he settled in the Midwestern town of Omaha, Neb., his license plate "P1943" illustrated the lifelong connection he felt to Princeton. Following graduation, Kenefick served three years in the Navy during World War II, primarily in the Pacific, before beginning his railroad career with the New York Central as a Mechanical Department apprentice, he held the post a short six months before heading to Omaha in 1947 to join Union Pacific as a locomotive draftsman. The westward move precipitated Kenefick's rapid through the industry's ranks. Making a concerted effort to learn firsthand how a railroad operates, he held assignments in various departments with Union Pacific, Denver & Rio Grande Western and, again, the New York Central before returning to the Union Pacific in 1968 as vice president-operations. He was promoted to executive vice president in 1969 and was elected chief executive officer of the transportation division in 1970. Kenefick retired after 40 yeas of service.