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8/2/2022
Hays Watkins, former chairman and CEO of CSX, died July 29 in Richmond, Virginia. He was 96.
Watkins spent 42 years with CSX and its predecessor companies.
"Hays saw CSX through a tumultuous period — negotiating a merger with the Chessie System and introducing multimodal transportation to make us a premier transport company," CSX officials said yesterday in a message posted on social media.
Before starting his railroad career, Watkins served in the U.S. Army. He then joined the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O) as a staff analyst, according to his obituary on legacy.com. He rose through the C&O finance departments until being named president and CEO of C&O and the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad in 1971. He added the title chairman of the C&O/B&O in 1973.
In 1975, when C&O/B&O became Chessie System Inc., Watkins was named chairman, president and CEO. In 1980, Chessie merged with Seaboard Coast Line to create CSX Corp., and Watkins became president and co-CEO. He was named chairman and CEO in 1982 and retired in 1991.
Watkins is survived by his wife, Betty; a son, three grandchildren and a great-grandson. A memorial service will be held Aug. 5 in Richmond.