Earl Congdon, Jr. 2013 Recipient of Syracuse University's Whitman
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Newsline_20133Q_CORP_Newsline_20133Q 11/21/13 11:17 AM Page 1 OD FAMILY YOUR COMMUNICATION HIGHWAY TO OLD DOMINION FREIGHT LINE ® Earl Congdon, Jr. 2013 Recipient of Syracuse University’s Whitman School of Management Harry E. Salzberg Medallion FALL | 2013 Newsline_20133Q_CORP_Newsline_20133Q 11/21/13 11:17 AM Page 2 LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT, CEO DEAR OD FAMILY MEMBERS Thanks to the entire OD Family we announced once again record financial results for the third quarter of 2013. Revenues grew 12% and net income nearly 19%. From the reports released thus far from industry competitors, we again have led the pack by a substantial margin. I appreciate all of you for your hard work and commitment that has made this possible. October was a tough month for the OD Family with the deaths of two of our most senior employees, Cornell Brenson, Linehaul Driver in Charlotte, and Jack Congdon of Richmond Virginia. I draw your attention to the tributes written for both of them in this issue as well as Jack Congdon’s obituary. On a personal note, I remember meeting Cornell Brenson approximately 47 years ago at one of our Christmas safety meetings I attended with my dad. Cornell was the epitome of a professional truck driver, loyal and commit- ted employee, and truly a great guy and friend to all his coworkers. Over all the years I knew Cornell, it’s amazing how he never changed despite his age. He always stood slender and tall, always had a smile, and never complained about a thing except his truck wasn’t fast enough. We will certainly miss this prince of a guy. “Uncle Jack” Congdon was a great man, and a mentor to me. I’ve always had a love for boats and watersports, as did Jack, and my dad Earl. To the best of my recollection, Uncle Jack taught me to drive a boat when I was about 4 years old at their Rappahannock River house. It was a little 14 ft. Glaspar with a 35hp Johnson outboard. I also got up on water ski’s the first time behind that boat. Through the years Jack owned several boats on which we learned about boating and fishing. In my early years full time at OD, I would travel and work some in Richmond and stay at his house. As is the case in most family companies we would always be talking business. He was always interested in what I was working on to improve. In the early 80’s I was responsible for maintenance operations and equipment purchasing. Jack was our expert in this area and he helped me tremendously in those early days in my career. He and his sons, John and Jeff, have continued helping ODFL in these areas. As the years have passed and Jack has been a member of our Board of Directors, he has contributed to nearly every major decision that has been made, helping steer us to where we are today. He has supported our man- agement team and allowed us to be successful. John Congdon Jr. mentions in his tribute Jack’s little yellow legal pad. Believe me, he passed me my share of notes and ideas and I appreciated them. We talk a lot about OD Family Spirit and I have to give Jack a pat on the back in this regard. He loved truck drivers! I witnessed this in my early days of going to Safety and Service Award meetings in Richmond and Norfolk. He was no doubt a mentor to me. Let’s thank the Lord for the lives of Jack Congdon and Cornell Brenson and legacy’s they have left with us. David S. Congdon President, CEO Newsline_20133Q_CORP_Newsline_20133Q 11/21/13 11:17 AM Page 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS FALL 2013 VOLUME 18, NUMBER 3 FEATURES 4 Corporate 14 Safety 15 Maintenance 16 Promotions & Appointments 18 Anniversaries 20 Retirement Shown on front cover: Syracuse University’s Whitman School of Management’s Dean, Ken Kavajecz (L) and Jason Seidl (R), a 1993 Whitman graduate BS TRANSPORTATION DISTRIBUTION MANAGEMENT and Managing Director for Cowen and Company, an REGIONS investment banking firm based in NYC, present Earl Congdon EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD ODFL (C) with the 2013 Salzberg Medallion. 22 Central States PHOTO CREDIT: SUSAN KAHN PHOTOGRAPHY 30 Gulf Coast 40 Midsouth 60 Midwest 70 Northeast 78 Ohio Valley ® 90 Pacific Northwest OD Family Newsline is published 95 Southern quarterly by: Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. 109 Western 500 Old Dominion Way Thomasville, NC 27360 336-889-5000 www.odfl.com Editor-in-Chief Sandy Marshall McBride [email protected] Newsline_20133Q_CORP_Newsline_20133Q 11/21/13 11:17 AM Page 4 CORPORATE In Memorium John Rhodes Congdon Sr. Feb 17, 1933 – Oct 30, 2013 After 80 years, the trucking industry has lost one of its He later served in the United States Army as a Military greatest legends. John Rhodes Congdon Sr., passed Policeman, stationed at Fort Sam Houston in San Anto- away during the early morning of October 30, 2013, in nio, Texas. After his service in the Army, Jack joined his his hometown of Richmond, Virginia. Jack Congdon was mother and older brother to help build the family truck- born the youngest son of Lillian and Earl Everett Cong- ing businesses of Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc. and don on February 17, 1933. He was predeceased by Na- Old Dominion Truck Leasing, Inc. Jack Congdon was a talie Neblett Congdon, his loving wife of 58 years. He is Master Mason with Tuckahoe Lodge No. 347 and a survived by his older brother, Earl Congdon (Kitty); his sis- Noble of Acca Temple Shrine in Richmond. He was an ter-in-law, Linda Jo Smith (Earl); his three children, Susan active member and past deacon of River Road Church, Terry, John Congdon Jr. (Leslie) and Jeff Congdon Baptist. Jack was a member of the Country Club of Vir- (Jackie); his nephew, Stephen Smith (Paige); and niece, ginia, Indian Creek Country Club, and Ocean Reef Club. Barbara White (Todd); his grandchildren, Lawson Bagwell He served as president of both River Road Civic Associ- (Andy), Peter Congdon (Susan), Nat Terry (Mary), Michael ation and Virginia Highway Users Association, and was a Congdon, Whit Congdon (Molly), Mary Congdon, Hunter proud supporter of the Massey Cancer Center and Vir- Terry (Caroline) and Mark Congdon; as well as nine great- ginia Commonwealth University's Pauley Heart Center. grandchildren. He is further survived by two nieces, Karen Jack Congdon is best remembered as a loving and ded- Pigman, Audrey Congdon; and one nephew, David Con- icated family man. Known as "Pa-Pa," he enjoyed spend- gdon. His extensive family is complemented by the ing time with his family at his river home in White Stone, countless number of people, businesses, and charitable Va. He was a mentor to many and had a heart of gold. foundations that Jack touched during his long and illus- His family will always treasure his life lessons and memory. trious life. Jack was a student of Augusta Military Acad- John R. “Jack” Congdon, Sr., a longtime member of emy and a graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School, board of directors at Old Dominion Freight Line, died where he was the First Captain of the Corps of Cadets. after a battle with cancer, he was 80 years old. 3 4 FALL 2013 NEWSLINE Newsline_20133Q_CORP_Newsline_20133Q 11/21/13 11:17 AM Page 5 CORPORATE Tribute to Jack Congdon Compiled by his family and delivered by John R. Congdon Jr. Thank you for joining us in a celebration of Dad’s life. Although Jack Congdon was known as a leg- end and “King of the Road”, to us and to many others, he was a teacher. Most impor- tantly, he was our dad. He was our mentor and he taught us many of life’s lessons. We would like to share some of them with you. First of all, he taught us to follow our passion. He taught us to love what you do or you’ll never be good at it. You’ll never be happy. Do what you love, be great at it, and be proud of it. He taught us to be a good listener. Actions speak louder than words. We should use our imaginations — that’s where the best solutions legal pad and often handed us a page as well. are born. It’s okay to be unique. He taught us to be generous and the importance of giv- He taught us the importance of having a sense of ing back more than you consume. He was always a humor; to enjoy life and not take ourselves too seriously. cheerful giver. He felt you should be more concerned He taught us to believe in ourselves, but also to remain with the needs of others than your own. humble. “Don’t be a stuffed shirt” — your actions will He taught us the true meaning of class. He‘d rather speak louder than your words. spend his time with an honest, hard-working truck driver He taught us, by example, to show appreciation. We than with an upper class, self-absorbed snob. should always be thankful and respectful for what others He taught us to love animals. People are good, but do for us. dogs are better. He taught us to love people. He could connect with any- Most importantly, he taught us to love God, our country, one, never spoke badly about anyone, and always be- and our family. lieved that there were two sides to every story. Of all the things that he has instilled in us, our strong He taught us courage — to go for the goal — to always family bond is his greatest legacy.