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John “Jack” Haley, who owned and operated two Midwestern short lines from the mid-1980s to early 1990s, died July 2. He was 75.

From 1984 until 1991, Haley was president and chief executive officer of the Chicago, Central and Pacific Railroad Co. and Cedar Valley Railroad Co., which together formed an 850-mile network between Chicago and Omaha, Neb. His railroads reached annual revenue of $80 million and at one time employed 600. Haley also helped pioneer dinner trains, including the launch of the Star Clipper in 1984 in Osage, Iowa, and the start-up of a Star Clipper operation to Michigan in 1985.

Haley later founded, and was president of, Haley Makielski Corp. and Haley Makielski Management Corp., real estate companies with holdings in three states and the District of Columbia. Last year, he was inducted into the Commercial Real Estate Workshop Hall of Fame.

Haley held an electrical engineering degree from the University of Nebraska and was a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force, where he served as a command pilot and administrative officer for 20 years until he retired in 1978.

He is survived by his wife, Marjorie, six daughters, a son, four stepchildren, 26 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.