John Palmer Fishwick

John Palmer Fishwick, of Roanoke, Va., at the age of 93 years, died on Monday, August 9, 2010. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Nellie Fishwick; his first wife, Blair Wiley Fishwick; and his brother, Dr. Marshall Fishwick. He is survived by his wife of 21 years, Doreen Hamilton Fishwick; his children, John P. Fishwick Jr., Ellen Blair Martin, and Anne Palmer Posvar; stepchildren, H. David Hamilton and Patricia Doreen Hamilton; grandchildren, John Blair and I. Guyman Martin IV, Wesley and Winston Posvar, and Richard and Jack Fishwick; and sisters, Manette Adams and Anne Hughes.
Mr. Fishwick was admitted to the Virginia Bar in 1937, was an associate with Cravath, Swain and Moore, New York, N.Y., and served in the United States Navy as LT. Commander from 1942 to 1945.
He joined the Norfolk and Western Railway Company in 1945 as Assistant to the General Solicitor and rose through successive positions to Senior Vice President and Director in 1963.
In 1968 he became Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Erie Lackawanna Railway Company, also becoming President of Delaware and Hudson Railway Company in 1968. On April 15, 1970, he became President and Executive Officer of Norfolk and Western Railway; on October 1, 1980, he became Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, retiring on October 1, 1981. From then until 1985 he was a partner at Windel Marx Davies and Ives in Washington, D.C., retiring to Roanoke in 1986.

He was director of Norfolk Southern Corporation, Chairman, Virginia Research and Development Advisory Committee at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and University. He also served on the board of Virginia Foundation for the Humanities. He was a Director of Allied Corporation, 1973 to 1987; Director of Piedmont Aviation, 1982 to 1987; Director of Shenandoah Life Insurance Company, 1978 to 1987; Director, Association of American Railroads, 1970 to 1981; Governor's Commission to Study Future of Virginia, 1982 to 1985; Trustee of Roanoke College, 1964 to 1972; President (1958) and Director (1956 to 1959) Roanoke Chamber of Commerce; Director, Virginia State Chamber of Commerce, 1959 to 1962 and 1965 to 1968; Director, Roanoke Symphony Society, 1955 to 1958 and 1964 to 1965; member of Governing Board, Center in The Square, 1980 to 1981; Chancellor of the Diocese of Southwest Virginia, 1960 to 1969; and member of Board of Trustees of Virginia Theological Seminary, Alexandria, Va., 1984 to 1986.
A Memorial Service will be held 11 a.m. on Thursday, August 12, 2010, at St. Johns Episcopal Church followed by a reception in the Parish Hall. Committal will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that contributions be made to the Fishwick Chair of English at Roanoke College or a charity of one's choice. Arrangements by Oakey's Roanoke Chapel, 540-982-2100.