Richard K. Davidson (born January 9, 1942) is a retired American railway executive.
[1] He entered the railroad business at eighteen by working as a brakeman/conductor nights and weekends with the Missouri Pacific Railroad to cover the expense of studying at Washburn University, where he graduated in 1966.
In 1968, at twenty-six, he became a superintendent, and was transferred to Shreveport, Louisiana.
In 1976, he was moved to the headquarters in St. Louis and became vice president of operations.
[1] His tenure as CEO begun in the midst of a crisis due to system incompatibilities as Union Pacific absorbed Southern Pacific Railroad.