Greenwood to Chair Advisory Group

Bill Greenwood, former Chief Operating Officer of the Burlington Northern Railroad, has agreed toChair the Hall of Fame's Rail Industry Advisory Group. Hall of Fame Chairman Jay Matson said, "Bill is highly respected throughout the Rail industry. We are delighted to have a person of his caliber and stature actively advancing this project." The Rail Industry Advisory Group will provide feedback on Hall of Fame concept design, develop strategy for outreach to the rail industry, and establish a volunteer network to support a national campaign.

Greenwood was born in Galesburg and graduated from high school at Mendota, Illinois. He is currently President of The Zephyr Group, a Texas-based consulting and investment firm. From 1963 to 1994, he worked at Burlington Northern Railroad, retiring as Chief Operating Officer after serving as Executive Vice President of Marketing and Sales and Vice President of Intermodal Transportation.

He began his career in 1956 on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy as a telegrapher and operator. Over the next two decades, he progressed through various operating positions including Traveling Car Agent, Manager-Freight Equipment, Assistant Trainmaster, Trainmaster, Assistant Superintendent Transportation and Assistant to VP Operations

From 1981 to 1985 under Greenwood’s leadership, Burlington Northern’s intermodal business doubled in size to $400 million while realizing significantly improved profitability.  He pioneered the development of Intermodal Hub Centers and hired truckers – rather than traditional railroaders – to run them.

His contributions to the intermodal industry have been well recognized. He received the Silver King Pin award in 1992 and was named "Person of the Year" by Transportation Clubs International in 1994.  He is an Honorary Fellow of the Intermodal Transportation Institute (ITI), participated in the ITI Intermodal Founding Fathers Oral History Program, and was honored by BNSF Railway Company in its establishment of the William E. Greenwood Scholarship for the ITI Masters Executive Program.

Greenwood's nonprofit and corporate board service includes the Intermodal Association of North America, Ameritruck, Trancisco, Mark VII, Transport Dynamics, Inc., Remington Oil and Gas, and Dune Energy. He has also served on the business school advisory boards at several universities, including Marquette University, his alma mater, and Texas Christian University. Greenwood currently serves as President of the Mendota Museum & Historical Society.