Former Roadway CEO Wickham Dies at 68
Wickham’s 35-year transportation career at Roadway Express was capped by his appointment as chairman and CEO in 1998, which later became Roadway Corp.
In 2003, he stepped down as CEO of the company where he spent his entire business career, and remained as chairman of the company.
The cause of death wasn’t immediately available.
Four months after he left the CEO’s post, Yellow Corp. agreed to buy Roadway Corp. in what was the largest-ever trucking merger, combining the two largest less-than-truckload companies.
“Mike Wickham was a giant and a visionary in our industry. His passion and foresight are still felt in trucking to this day in the important work done by the American Transportation Research Institute,” said American Trucking Associations President Bill Graves. “As ATRI’s founding chairman, Mike recognized how good, strong, independent research and data can contribute to good policy. We are saddened by his loss; the entire trucking industry is indebted to him and the work he did.”
In 2011, ATA recognized Wickham with its highest honor, S. Earl Dove Highway Award.
In addition to his service at Roadway, Wickham was a director at broker C.H. Robinson Worldwide, waste company Republic Services, Inc. and was Chairman of Douglas Dynamics, Inc., a Milwaukee-based maker of snow plow equipment.
He also was a founder of the Board of Motor Freight Carriers.
Wickham’s pursuits included horse racing, which prompted him to found Pauleeanna Thoroughbreds, Inc., a Florida breeding farm.
Wickham was born in Elmira, New York, and was graduated from the University of Delaware, where he played football.
Survivors include his wife Barbara, his mother Ernestine, and brother Robert Wickham. In addition, he leaves three children, Devon Strickland, Michael Wickham and Lindsay Wickham and one grandson.
A memorial mass is scheduled for Feb. 5 at Santa Maria Del Mar in Flagler Beach, Florida. In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation or the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation.
Services are being arranged by the Lohman Funeral Home, Palm Coast, Florida.
