Ex-N&W chief Jack Fishwick dies at 93

John P. “Jack” Fishwick, president of the Norfolk & Western from 1970 to 1981 and a chief architect of the merger that created Norfolk Southern, died Aug. 9 at the age of 93.

In 1980, Fishwick initiated talks with Southern Railway, which led two years later to its consolidation with N&W into Norfolk Southern Corp. in 1982. He was a member of the NS board from its formation until retiring in 1989. 

“All of us in the Norfolk Southern family are saddenedby Jack Fishwick’s passing, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family,” said NS CEO Wick Moorman. “He was a visionary leader and a principal architect of today’s Norfolk Southern. Our company would not have become the premier railroad it is today without his strong leadership and continuing wise counsel."

Fishwick joined the N&W law department in 1945 following Navy service in World War II. He became senior vice president and was elected to the Norfolk & Western board in 1963. He was named chairman and chief executive officer of the Erie Lackawanna Railway in April 1968, and president of the Delaware & Hudson Railway later the same year. Both were affiliated with N&W at the time. He became president and CEO of N&W in 1970.

David R. Goode, who joined N&W in 1962 and served as NS chairman, president, and CEO from 1992 to 2005, told the Roanoke Times, “I came to the railroad because I met Jack on a Saturday morning in his office, smoking a pipe and planning a railroad merger. That was typical of Jack. He was always thinking about strategy and how to make the right move to strengthen the company.”