Former Amtrak President Alan Boyd dies

Alan Boyd, the first U.S. secretary of transportation and Amtrak’s third president, died Oct. 18. He was 98, the New York Times reported.

President Lyndon Johnson appointed Boyd transportation secretary in 1966. Boyd served as president of the Illinois Central Railroad from 1969 to 1972, and as Amtrak’s president from 1978 to 1982.

"Alan Boyd championed safety, the development of an integrated, multimodal transportation system, and consistent federal funding for intercity passenger rail service to realize its full potential," said Amtrak President and Chief Executive Officer Bill Flynn in a statement.

Boyd left Amtrak after four years in a much stronger position than when he arrived, Flynn said.