E. Hunter Harrison facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
E. Hunter Harrison
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| Born |
Ewing Hunter Harrison
November 7, 1944 |
| Died | December 16, 2017 (aged 73) |
| Occupation | Railway executive |
| Spouse(s) | Jeannie |
| Children | 2 |
Ewing Hunter Harrison (born November 7, 1944 – died December 16, 2017) was a very important leader in the railroad world. He was the chief executive officer (CEO) for several big railway companies. These included the Illinois Central Railroad (IC), Canadian National Railway (CN), Canadian Pacific Railway (CP), and CSX Corporation. He became famous for bringing in a new way of running trains called precision scheduled railroading.
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Hunter Harrison's Early Career
Hunter Harrison was born in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1944. He started working in railroads in 1964. His first job was as a carman-oiler for the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway, also known as "Frisco." At the same time, he was also going to Memphis State University.
Moving Up the Ranks
Harrison quickly moved up in his career. He became a railroad operator at Frisco. Later, when Burlington Northern Railroad (BN) bought Frisco in 1980, he continued to get promotions there. He eventually became a vice-president in charge of transportation and service design.
Leading Major Railroads
In 1989, Harrison left BN and joined the Illinois Central Railroad (IC). He started as a vice-president and chief operating officer. From 1993 to 1998, he was the president and chief executive officer of IC.
Joining Canadian National Railway
When CN bought IC in 1998, Harrison became a vice-president at Canadian National Railway (CN). On January 1, 2003, he became the president and CEO of CN. He stayed in this role until he retired on December 31, 2009.
Awards and Recognition
During his time at CN, Hunter Harrison received several honors. In 2002, he was named Railroader of the Year by Railway Age magazine. In 2007, The Globe and Mail's "Report on Business" named him CEO of the Year. CN planned for his replacement, and Claude Mongeau took over as CEO in 2010.
Retirement and Return
After leaving CN, Harrison retired to his home in Connecticut. There, he focused on raising and training horses for show jumping. He also served as a director for the Belt Railway of Chicago.
Leading Canadian Pacific Railway
In 2011, a group of investors led by Bill Ackman asked Harrison to help them with the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR). They wanted Harrison to become the new CEO of CPR. After a big meeting with shareholders, Ackman's group was successful. On June 29, 2012, Hunter Harrison was named president and CEO of CPR.
Moving to CSX Corporation
On January 18, 2017, Harrison suddenly resigned as CEO of CP. He then joined Paul Hilal to help manage CSX Corporation, another large railroad company in the United States. On March 7, 2017, Harrison officially became the CEO of CSX.
Hunter Harrison's Legacy
Hunter Harrison passed away on December 16, 2017. He was 73 years old. He died due to health problems, just two days after taking medical leave from CSX. He is remembered for his strong leadership and for changing how many major railroads operated. He was survived by his wife, Jeannie, and his two daughters, Elizabeth and Cayce.
