Rick Corman, 1955-2013

Richard J. "Rick" Corman, founder of R. J. Corman Railroad Group, died the morning of August 23, 2013, following a 12-year battle with multiple myeloma. Corman died at his home in Nicholasville, Ky., surrounded by his family. He was 58.

“Mr. Corman will be remembered for his character, energy, determination, generosity, and vision,” said R. J. Corman Railroad Group President Craig King. “He built a successful railroad company by working hard, understanding industry needs, and delivering on them.”

Described as “a railroad entrepreneur known for his colorful personality, with a deep and quick laugh and a demanding boss who was especially insightful and strategic in growing his business,” Corman founded a railroad construction company in 1973, the year he graduated from high school. Through his hands-on approach and exemplary customer service, he built his business into the R. J. Corman Railroad Group, a diversified railroad service provider that has more than 1,150 employees and operates in more than 21 states.

Today, R. J. Corman Railroad Group is a privately owned holding company that operates a short line railroad, and provides switching operations, rail construction, track material distribution, warehousing, aviation services, equipment rental, derailment services, signaling, and railroad emergency response. The company owns RailPower Locomotives, and operates My Old Kentucky Dinner Train. The short line company, R. J. Corman Railroad Co. was named Railway Age’s 2007 Short Line of the Year.

King said that, thanks to Corman’s penchant for detail and planning, the company is positioned to move forward, despite the loss of its founder. “Mr. Corman prepared us for this day, so we will continue serving our customers with the exceptional quality we are known for,” said King. “We will reflect on the life of this man who gave us so much, and join with the family in mourning our loss.”

Rick Corman’s Funeral Arrangements will be posted at: http://www.rjcorman.com.