William Waldo Cameron Forum on Public Affairs - 10/18/2005
Richard K. Davidson
Richard K. (Dick) Davidson was named chairman and chief executive officer of Union Pacific Corporation in January 1997. A native of Allen, Kansas, Davidson began his distinguished railroad career in 1960 as an 18-year-old brakeman/conductor with the Missouri Pacific. Six years later, he was appointed assistant trainmaster at Shreveport, Louisiana, and from there held various Operating Department positions for Missouri Pacific in Fort Worth, Kansas City and North Little Rock before being named assistant to the vice president of Operations in St. Louis in 1975. He was named vice president of Operations in 1976.
Davidson joined Union Pacific Railroad in 1982 when it merged with Missouri Pacific and Western Pacific Railroads. He was promoted to vice president of Operations in 1986 and executive vice president in 1989, a position he held until his appointment to president and chief executive officer of Union Pacific Railroad in August 1991. Seven weeks later, Davidson was named chairman and chief executive officer of the Railroad, positions he still holds.
Davidson holds a bachelor's degree from Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, and has completed the Management Development program at Harvard University.
Davidson is a member of The Business Council and The Business Roundtable. He serves on the board of directors of the Association of American Railroads and is a member and past chairman of the President's National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC). Davidson serves as a trustee and a director of the Foundation for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and is a member of the Kennedy Center Corporate Fund Board. In 2002, Davidson was honored with the Horatio Alger Award for Distinguished Americans and remains a lifetime member of the Association.
Additionally, Davidson is a member of the U.S. Strategic Command Consultation Committee and is on the board of trustees of the Boy Scouts of America.
Davidson and his wife, Trish, are the parents of three children.