Jack Congdon, Old Dominion Freight Line Executive, Dies

John R. “Jack” Congdon, Sr., a longtime member of board of directors at Old Dominion Freight Line, died after a battle with cancer, he was 80 years old.

Congdon joined the company in 1951 and held numerous positions, including senior vice president and vice chairman of the board of directors.

He was the founder of Old Dominion Truck Leasing, a Virginia-based corporation primarily engaged in the full-service leasing of tractors, trailers and other equipment.

“Jack Congdon is rightly considered a trail blazer within the trucking industry. In addition to founding Old Dominion Truck Leasing, he played an integral role in ensuring the success of Old Dominion Freight Line,” David Congdon, Old Dominion’s president and Jack Congdon’s nephew said in a statement.

After serving in the U.S. Army as a military policeman, Jack Congdon returned to join his mother and older brother, Earl Congdon, Jr., to build Old Dominion Freight Line.

He is preceded in death by Natalie Neblett Congdon, his wife of 58 years, and survived by their three children, Susan Terry, John Congdon Jr. and Jeff Congdon. He also is survived by his brother, Earl Congdon, in addition to eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

North Carolina-based Old Dominion Freight Line is a less-than-truckload carrier providing regional, inter-regional and national service in addition to a broad range of logistics services.