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Drew Lewis, transportation secretary under Reagan, dies at 84
Drew Lewis also was trustee in bankruptcy for the Reading Company. Reading Company became Reading International and still may own railroad assets.
How is it possible to write an obit for Drew Lewis on behalf of Trains magazine without mentioning his time at the helm of Union Pacific?
Drew Lewis was the key person leading the UP into the post Staggers world when he selected Mike Walsh for a five year stint as CEO.
Let us examine a sterling record from the above info: “slash funding for Amtrak”…“directed the merger of CNW into UP and did the same with SP.” Remember how well the latter transpired. He and Wm. Quinn were in a class by themselves.
I shook his hand once and enjoyed a short visit with his charming wife, Marilyn.
I have heard from a variety of sources that it was actually Marilyn who loved the railroad and saw a bright future in it - and who played an active role in the historically accurate refurbishing of UP’s passenger (excursion) fleet over a quarter-century ago. Her husband preferred the corporate jet to plate glass and varnish, political intrigue to hump yards, and New York (or even Dallas) to Omaha.
He also possessed a prodigious ego, making it difficult for another, ah, “flamboyant” personality to share the same space. Gary Schuster once called him “a ‘banty rooster’ in the board room.”
Lewis seemed like a nice guy out on the property, but I never had to work for him (and I remain well known for my naivete)! If Bill Cook or Mike Walsh were still alive, they might have a thing or two to say!
Drew and Marilyn were married for 65-sum-odd years. Right now, it must really be difficult for his entire family.
Tempus fugit, man.
Robert Wilcox you got it exactly right. Mike Walsh was the one that made him look good.