Paul R. Rudder

Background

Paul R. Rudder was born in 1932. His documented career developed within the American railroad industry during a period of consolidation, modernization, and increasing integration among major regional rail systems.

Education

Rudder received a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from the University of Tennessee in 1955. The university, founded in Knoxville in 1794, developed as Tennessee's principal public research institution and maintained longstanding programs in engineering and applied sciences.

His education in civil engineering provided a technical foundation for work in transportation management. After completing his degree, he served with the United States Air Force from 1956 to 1957 before continuing his railroad career.

Career

Rudder began his railroad career with Southern Railway Company, becoming a vice president and remaining with the company from 1955 to 1987. Southern Railway was one of the major rail systems serving the southeastern United States, linking industrial, agricultural, and port regions through a large network of freight and passenger routes.

From 1982, he was also identified as vice president of operations of Norfolk and Western Railway Company. Norfolk and Western was a major American railroad whose network centered on coal, industrial freight, and other bulk commodities. Its combination with Southern Railway in 1982 created Norfolk Southern Corporation, consolidating two established operating systems under a new corporate structure.

Rudder served as vice president of Norfolk Southern Corporation from 1987 to 1989 and as senior vice president of operations from 1989 to 1990. He then became executive vice president of operations, a position he held from 1990 until his retirement in 1994. In these senior roles, he was part of the executive leadership responsible for the operating organization of the railroad during the formative years following the Southern–Norfolk and Western combination.

His work placed him among the senior operating executives who helped maintain continuity between the predecessor railroads and the expanding Norfolk Southern system. In 1992, he participated in the corporate approval of a commemorative Southern Railway locomotive project associated with the railroad's centennial observance in 1994.

Achievements

• Rudder became a senior operating executive during the formation and early development of Norfolk Southern Corporation, following the 1982 combination of Southern Railway Company and Norfolk and Western Railway Company.

• He participated in the approval of a commemorative Southern Railway locomotive project connected with the centennial of Southern Railway in 1994.

Personality

Quotes from others about the person

• Norfolk Southern executive David Goode described Paul Rudder as one of the company's highly experienced operating leaders and praised his reliability, teamwork, and willingness to carry out organizational responsibilities.

Connections

Rudder is documented as married.

References

• David Goode Transcript, National Railroad Hall of Fame Oral-history interview discussing Norfolk Southern's executive organization and identifying Paul Rudder as one of the company's senior operating leaders.
• Norfolk Southern Heritage Units: Southern Railway Heritage Unit Historical account of the commemorative Southern Railway locomotive project approved by Norfolk Southern executives, including Paul Rudder.