ASLRRA Names Short Line Hall of Famers for 2024

Each of the Short Line Hall of Fame honorees—Robert Grossman (left), the late Jake Jacobson (center) and Rick Webb—“has made an indelible mark on the short line industry, from creating the industry role of advocate in government and regulatory affairs, to launching an industry-wide emphasis and recognition of safe operating performance, to growing a car repair shop with a single railroad into a multi-service entity operating in four countries by building a team focused on exceptional customer service,” ASLRRA reported.

The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) on Jan. 9 announced that Robert Grossman, Lowell “Jake” Jacobson and Rick Webb have been selected to join the Short Line Railroad Hall of Fame. They will be inducted March 25 at the association’s annual conference and exhibition. Jacobson, Railway Age’s 1994 Railroader of the Year who passed away in 2021, will be honored posthumously.

The Short Line Hall of Fame, established in 2020, recognizes “short line railroad visionaries who through their dedication, commitment, and achievement best exemplify the qualities of innovation, entrepreneurialism, perseverance, and service that have advanced the short line railroad industry,” according to ASLRRA.

“The short line industry is one of the All-American success stories, built over more than 100 years by hard working visionaries,” ASLRRA President Chuck Baker said.  “These men and women saw opportunity where others did not. The Short Line Industry Hall of Fame allows us an opportunity to recognize extraordinary achievement in the industry. This year’s inductees, Robert Grossman, Jake Jacobson, and Rick Webb, represent attributes that continue today as part of the short line ethos—advocacy, safety and service.”

Robert Grossman: ‘From Short Line Founder to Industry Advocate’

Grossman first made a name for himself in the railroad industry in 1971 as one of the founders of short line holding company Emons Transportation Group (Emons). When Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (G&W) acquired Emons in 2002, he joined G&W’s executive team, shifting his career toward a focus on representing railroad interests and helping railroads become their own advocates, according to ASLRRA.

Grossman served as Chairman, President and CEO of Emons Transportation Group. Later, upon joining G&W, company leadership recognized Grossman’s acuity in government affairs and created for him the new role of Executive Vice President, Government and Industry Affairs, ASLRRA reported. Grossman retired from G&W in 2008.

“In 1996, Grossman recognized the need for railroads to become advocates, working regionally to achieve legislative and economic goals,” ASLRRA said. He helped start and served as the first President of the Keystone State Railroad Association in Pennsylvania while still leading Emons. Later, he worked to establish and served as President and Board Member of both Railroads of New York and the Oregon Rail Users League, which in 2008 created the Robert Grossman Distinguished Service Award.

Grossman was an active member of ASLRRA’s Board of Directors from 1999-2008. He also served on the Legislative Policy Committee and State Associations/Relations Committee. According to ASLRRA, he was instrumental in “strategizing and advocating for the short line tax credit, which has enabled the industry to invest more than $5 billion in infrastructure to date.”

In his retirement, Grossman served on the Board for Aaron’s Acres, an organization providing recreational activities to children and young adults with disabilities, and is still a Board Member Emeritus. He also served on the Board of Prima Theatre, providing business advice and helping with fundraising.

Jake Jacobson: ‘Industry Veteran Focused on Safety’

“Jacobson was passionate about railroads, short lines and rail safety, and while he never set out to become a famous railroader, his unceasing dedication to the industry he loved made him a legend,” ASLRRA said.

Jacobson worked for Union Pacific for 29 years. He joined Copper Basin Railway in 1987 as General Superintendent, quickly being promoted to General Manager and then becoming Chief Operating Officer, and serving as President and Chief Operating Officer for more than 30 years before retiring in 2020.

In 1993, a section of Copper Basin Railway track near Kearny, Ariz., was washed away by rising flood waters from the Gila River. Jacobson and all the employees of the railroad worked tirelessly to save the short line, even going against the Army Corps of Engineers at one point, building a dike to force the river back where it belonged. His actions during the flood and during the long months rebuilding the damaged sections of the railroad earned him Railway Age’s Railroader of the Year award in 1994; Jacobson was the first short line operator to be so honored. In December 1999, Railway Age named him one of the Great Railroaders of the 20th Century.

Jacobson was the originator of what is today’s ASLRRA Jake Safety Award program. “When the Copper Basin Railway achieved a perfect safety record in 1993, Jacobson realized no award existed to recognize small railroads’ safety records, so he started a program himself,” ASLRRA reported. “In 1999, ASLRRA took over the safety award program and named it after Jacobson.”

Jacobson’s commitment to safety did not stop with his work with the Copper Basin; he served on the Board of Arizona Operation Lifesaver. He was also active in his community, earning the Citizen of the Year award from the Copper Basin Chamber of Commerce in 1998.

Jacobson died in 2021 at age 80. Upon his passing, Viking Navigation Principal Adam Nordstrom, who worked with Jacobson through ASLRRA, said, “He was a titan from the age of the short line renaissance who left his brand on our industry and on the hearts of those honored to work with him.”

Rick Webb: ‘Second-Generation Railroader Builds Company by Focusing on Employees, Customers’

Webb was working part time for Watco while going to college when Watco started in July 1983. He cleaned boxcars at Watco’s early third-party switching locations. “From that humble beginning, Watco grew from one operation to 190 locations operating in four countries today,” ASLRRA reported. “For Webb, the main reason for Watco’s and his success is an unrelenting emphasis on building the best team to serve customers in the best manner possible.” Pittsburg, Kans.-based Watco celebrated 40 years of service last year.

In 1987, Watco purchased its first short line, primarily to serve its own railcar repair shop, and kept on growing. In 1998, Webb became Watco’s CEO after taking the reins from his father, Dick Webb, who had to step down for health reasons. “Guiding Watco’s growth required a constant focus on listening to and learning from the customer and from the Watco team,” ASLRRA said. “Webb always believed that if you want to learn how to grow the top line, listen to your customer and if you want to learn how to grow the bottom line, listen to your team.”

Today, Watco operates and provides daily services to more than 3,500 customers in three business units. Webb stepped down from his role as CEO in 2018 and is now the company’s Executive Chair, who was recognized as one of 10 Railway Age Readers’ Influential Leaders in 2021. He handed off the leadership of Watco to current CEO Dan Smith.

“Because of the tremendous performance of the Watco team, Webb has received many accolades for his leadership of Watco,” ASLRRA said. “But Webb is most proud of Newsweek’s designation of Watco as one of America’s 100 Most Loved Workplaces and one of the Top 100 Global Most Loved Workplaces, awards based on the results of Watco team surveys.”

Webb has supported organizations focused on improving customers’ supply chain efficiency, including chairing the Railroad-Shipper Transportation Advisory Council (RSTAC), and as a member of the National Industrial Transportation League’s Board of Directors.

A supporter of his community, Webb advocates for his alma mater, Pittsburg State University, and many local schools and community organizations. He is member of the Pittsburg State University Foundation Board of Trustees, Community National Bank‘s Advisory Board of Directors and U.S. Bank’s Market Board of Directors.

For more information on each Short Line Hall of Fame 2024 inductee, visit the ASLRRA website.

In related developments, Railway Age is now accepting nominations for its 2024 Short Line and Regional Railroad of the Year program; the deadline is Feb. 6. Small roads in the U.S., Mexico and Canada are eligible for an award. The 2024 honorees will be recognized at the ASLRRA 2024 Annual Conference & Exhibition. Articles covering their achievements will appear in Railway Age’s March 2024 issue, which will be distributed at the show. Additionally, nominations are open for ASLRRA’s Business Development Awards; nominations are due Feb. 9.