(Norfolk Southern issued the following news release on September 27.)
ATLANTA– Norfolk Southern Corporation today named its midtown Atlanta office building the David R. Goode Building, in honor of the company’s chairman and chief executive officer, who is scheduled to retire in early 2006.
Goode, who became chairman, president and CEO in 1992, led Norfolk Southern through a challenging period that included economic downturns and a complex consolidation with Conrail to unprecedented levels of safety, customer service and financial performance.
President Wick Moorman called the building name a gesture of appreciation from the people of Norfolk Southern to a great leader. “The fact is that David’s contributions will far outlive bricks and mortar,” Moorman said. “His focus on making rail a dependable and sought-after transportation partner has helped shape Norfolk Southern and the rail industry for the new century.”
Norfolk Southern acquired the 12-story building at 1200 Peachtree St. from AT&T in 2004 and began consolidating departments there from various Atlanta locations in 2005. Currently, about 1,200 employees work at the building and 600 more are expected to relocate there in the near future.
Norfolk Southern Corporation is one of the nation’s premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates 21,300 route miles in 22 states, the District of Columbia and Ontario, Canada, serving every major container port in the eastern United States and providing superior connections to western rail carriers. NS operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is North America’s largest rail carrier of automotive parts and finished vehicles.