Business Wire·Jun 5, 2026, 10:00 AM ET

Union Pacific Mourns the Passing of Former Chairman and CEO Dick Davidson

UNP

Richard "Dick" Davidson, former chairman & CEO of Union Pacific Railroad, died at age 84 on June 5, 2026.
Born Jan. 9, 1942, in Allen, Kansas, he began his career as a part-time brakeman for Missouri Pacific Railroad to fund college.
He graduated from Washburn University & rose through Missouri Pacific ranks, becoming vice president of operations in 1976.
Following the 1982 merger of Union Pacific & Missouri Pacific, Davidson served in expanding leadership roles before becoming Union Pacific president & CEO in 1991.
Named chairman & CEO of Union Pacific Corporation in 1997, he oversaw the acquisitions of Chicago & North Western Railway & Southern Pacific Railroad.
Davidson modernized Union Pacific's technology infrastructure & decentralized operations to address challenges from the Southern Pacific merger.
His leadership achievements include induction into the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans & inductions into the Kansas & Nebraska Business Halls of Fame.
He received an honorary doctorate from Washburn University & was named Kansan of the Year by the Native Sons & Daughters of Kansas.
Outside railroading, Davidson served as chair of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, a director at Creighton University, & chairman of President George W. Bush's National Infrastructure Advisory Board.
He also served on the boards of the Kroger Company, Boy Scouts of America, & the Capitol Visitors Center.
Davidson resided in Naples, Florida, with his wife Trish & is survived as a husband, father, & grandfather.