John P. Fishwick

Chairman and CEO, Norfolk and Western Railway

---

Excerpt fro the Fall 1992 issue of The Kappa Alpha Journal

The Kappa Alpha Order Distinguished Achievement Award was given to John P. Fishwick (Beta Rho ’34, Roanoke College), the retired chairman and chief executive officer of Norfolk and Western Railway, in conjunction with the head· quarters dedication weekend Oct 4. The Distinguished Achievement Award is the highest honor made by the Order to recognize the contributions of an alumnus in his profession and to his country. Past recipients have included George C. Marshall, secretary of state and Nobel Peace Prize winner; Gen. Lemuel C. Shepherd, commandant of the Marine Corps; Robert W. Woodruff, Coca-Cola chairman; Ovid W. Pierce, author and educator; and John D. de Butts, AT&T chairman. Fishwick is only the 14th alumnus to be so honored. After graduating from Roanoke College in 1937, Fishwick went on to earn a degree from Harvard L1w School. He was the captain of a Navy ship in World War II, then returned to Roanoke, Va., where he joined Norfolk and Western as a company lawyer in 1945. He worked his way up the ranks to senior vice pres1dent and director in 1963, and was made president and chief executive officer in 1970. Prior to his retirement in 1981, Fishwick laid the foundation for Norfolk and Western’s merger with the Southern Railway to form the Norfolk Southern Corp. A few of Fishwick’s many professional and civic involvements include being a director of the Association of American Railroads, the Transportation Association of America, the Virginia State Chamber of Commerce, the United Fund of Roanoke Valley, the Roanoke Fine Arts Center, and the Roanoke Symphony Society. He has been a trustee for Roanoke College and served as a member of the Board of Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, and the Governor’s Commission on Excellence in Education.