TRIBUTE IN MEMORY OF RICHARD "RICK" CORMAN,
Richard Jay "R.J." Corman, 58 years of age, of Nicholasville, Kentucky, lost his battle with cancer and departed this life about 11:00 a.m. at his home on Friday, August 23rd, 2013 while surrounded by his loving family.
Rick was born in Jessamine County, Kentucky on July 22nd, 1955, son of the late James William "Jay" and Maudie Houp Corman. He was a member of the Highbridge United Holiness Church. Rick built a backhoe business into a multimillion-dollar railroad and construction company (R.J. Corman Railroad Group). As the founder and sole owner of R.J. Corman Railroad Group, Rick presided over the Nicholasville-based company that became one of only two major companies offering 24-hour emergency derailment cleanup for railways. The company employs more than 1,150 people in 21 states.
His paternal grandfather, Carl Corman, made 11-year-old Rick a 25 percent partner in a business that hauled cattle, hogs and junk. After graduating from high school in 1973, Rick learned the excavation business through his uncle, Clay Corman, and then bought a backhoe and a dump truck to pick up whatever jobs he could. The dump truck was red, which, along with silver, became the signature colors for every locomotive, truck, helicopter, and jet plane in the R.J. Corman fleet.
Rick's first exposure to the railroad business came when he was hired to do backhoe work for the old L&N Railroad, digging out and repairing railroad crossings. He developed a reputation for doing this work better and faster. The seeds for the growth of the Corman empire were planted in 1984, when Congress began deregulating the railroad industry with what is known as the Staggers Act. Larger railroads began to get rid of small stretches of unprofitable rail line. They also began to farm out maintenance, construction, derailment cleanups and other jobs they found too costly to specialized and often non-union organizations like Rick's. His first acquisition as a railroad owner was a 20-mile short line he bought in 1987 in the Bardstown area from the old L&N Railroad. On that stretch, he started My Old Kentucky Dinner Train in 1988. Using a rail car that was part of President Dwight D. Eisenhower's 1969 funeral cortege, the dinner train still takes excursions through the rolling countryside north of Bardstown as diners feast on entrees such as prime rib or barbecued scallops.
In 1996, R.J. Corman Railroad Group acquired the Allentown and Pennsylvania lines from Conrail, the reorganized set of railroads that had gone into bankruptcy in the 1970's. R.J. Corman Railroad Group operates more than 600 miles of short-line railroads, which carry peanuts, aluminum ingots, alcohol, paper, plastic, fertilizer, limestone, scrap paper, brick, corn syrup and oil. The company's "storm team" also fixed railroads damaged by hurricanes, floods, blizzards, etc.
Rick and his company were the largest philanthropic supporters of St. Joseph Hospital. They provided the money to establish St. Joseph-Jessamine R.J. Corman Ambulatory Care Center in Nicholasville in 2009. And the company provided a gift to the St. Joseph Hospital Foundation to bring digital mammography services to the Nicholasville center in 2013. When Jessamine County received a donated 1925 steam locomotive and coal car to display in a local park, they were moved at no cost to taxpayers by Rick's company. He also donated a red caboose that was once displayed in Carlisle and put down the section of track on which the train now rests in Riney B Park (the park is named for a railroad line) off the U.S. 27 Bypass in Nicholasville.
Rick was survived by his partner in life, Tammie Taylor of Nicholasville, Kentucky; five children, Amy (and her husband, David) Page of Nicholasville, Kentucky, Richard Justin (and his wife, Amanda) Corman of North Carolina, Jay Richard (and his wife, Rebekah) Corman of Nicholasville, Kentucky, Ashley Corman (and her fiancé, Andrew Bramlett), and April (and her husband, Korey) Colyer; four grandchildren Caroline and Ben Page and Richard and Abigail Corman; one sister, Sandy (and her husband, Jerry) Adams; two nephews, Brandon Adams and Tyler Adams; and a host of other family and friends who mourn his passing.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jay Corman, who departed this life on January 8th, 1986 and Maudie Corman, who departed this life on July 13th, 1995.
Visitations were held from 1:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 25th, 2013 in Hangar 1 on the property of R.J. Corman Railroad Group at 101 R.J. Corman Drive in Nicholasville, Kentucky. The Hager & Cundiff Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements for Rick.
Funeral services were held at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, August 26th, 2013 also at Hangar 1 on the property of R.J. Corman Railroad Group with speakers, Jon Weece, Rev. Wayne Smith, Dr. Paul Richardson, and Matt Ross. The front gate was open at 2:30 p.m. for services.
His pallbearers were: Jerry Adams, Brandon Adams, Tyler Adams, Richard J. Corman, Jay Richard Corman, David Page, Korey Colyer, and Andrew Bramlett. His honorary bearers were: Luther Deaton, William Walter Halfhill, Ben Taylor, David Irvin, Craig King, Fred Mudge, Gene Coconaugher, Tony Ingram, and Denver Shuman.
Rick was laid to rest next to the Headquarters Sign on his beloved property the R.J. Corman Railroad Group Headquarters at the Hanger where he so proudly displayed his passion and love of trains.
IN LOVING MEMORY
Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.
Richard Jay "R.J." Corman, 58 years of age, of Nicholasville, Kentucky, lost his battle with cancer and departed this life about 11:00 a.m. at his home on Friday, August 23rd, 2013 while surrounded by his loving family.
Rick was born in Jessamine County, Kentucky on July 22nd, 1955, son of the late James William "Jay" and Maudie Houp Corman. He was a member of the Highbridge United Holiness Church. Rick built a backhoe business into a multimillion-dollar railroad and construction company (R.J. Corman Railroad Group). As the founder and sole owner of R.J. Corman Railroad Group, Rick presided over the Nicholasville-based company that became one of only two major companies offering 24-hour emergency derailment cleanup for railways. The company employs more than 1,150 people in 21 states.
His paternal grandfather, Carl Corman, made 11-year-old Rick a 25 percent partner in a business that hauled cattle, hogs and junk. After graduating from high school in 1973, Rick learned the excavation business through his uncle, Clay Corman, and then bought a backhoe and a dump truck to pick up whatever jobs he could. The dump truck was red, which, along with silver, became the signature colors for every locomotive, truck, helicopter, and jet plane in the R.J. Corman fleet.
Rick's first exposure to the railroad business came when he was hired to do backhoe work for the old L&N Railroad, digging out and repairing railroad crossings. He developed a reputation for doing this work better and faster. The seeds for the growth of the Corman empire were planted in 1984, when Congress began deregulating the railroad industry with what is known as the Staggers Act. Larger railroads began to get rid of small stretches of unprofitable rail line. They also began to farm out maintenance, construction, derailment cleanups and other jobs they found too costly to specialized and often non-union organizations like Rick's. His first acquisition as a railroad owner was a 20-mile short line he bought in 1987 in the Bardstown area from the old L&N Railroad. On that stretch, he started My Old Kentucky Dinner Train in 1988. Using a rail car that was part of President Dwight D. Eisenhower's 1969 funeral cortege, the dinner train still takes excursions through the rolling countryside north of Bardstown as diners feast on entrees such as prime rib or barbecued scallops.
In 1996, R.J. Corman Railroad Group acquired the Allentown and Pennsylvania lines from Conrail, the reorganized set of railroads that had gone into bankruptcy in the 1970's. R.J. Corman Railroad Group operates more than 600 miles of short-line railroads, which carry peanuts, aluminum ingots, alcohol, paper, plastic, fertilizer, limestone, scrap paper, brick, corn syrup and oil. The company's "storm team" also fixed railroads damaged by hurricanes, floods, blizzards, etc.
Rick and his company were the largest philanthropic supporters of St. Joseph Hospital. They provided the money to establish St. Joseph-Jessamine R.J. Corman Ambulatory Care Center in Nicholasville in 2009. And the company provided a gift to the St. Joseph Hospital Foundation to bring digital mammography services to the Nicholasville center in 2013. When Jessamine County received a donated 1925 steam locomotive and coal car to display in a local park, they were moved at no cost to taxpayers by Rick's company. He also donated a red caboose that was once displayed in Carlisle and put down the section of track on which the train now rests in Riney B Park (the park is named for a railroad line) off the U.S. 27 Bypass in Nicholasville.
Rick was survived by his partner in life, Tammie Taylor of Nicholasville, Kentucky; five children, Amy (and her husband, David) Page of Nicholasville, Kentucky, Richard Justin (and his wife, Amanda) Corman of North Carolina, Jay Richard (and his wife, Rebekah) Corman of Nicholasville, Kentucky, Ashley Corman (and her fiancé, Andrew Bramlett), and April (and her husband, Korey) Colyer; four grandchildren Caroline and Ben Page and Richard and Abigail Corman; one sister, Sandy (and her husband, Jerry) Adams; two nephews, Brandon Adams and Tyler Adams; and a host of other family and friends who mourn his passing.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jay Corman, who departed this life on January 8th, 1986 and Maudie Corman, who departed this life on July 13th, 1995.
Visitations were held from 1:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 25th, 2013 in Hangar 1 on the property of R.J. Corman Railroad Group at 101 R.J. Corman Drive in Nicholasville, Kentucky. The Hager & Cundiff Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements for Rick.
Funeral services were held at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, August 26th, 2013 also at Hangar 1 on the property of R.J. Corman Railroad Group with speakers, Jon Weece, Rev. Wayne Smith, Dr. Paul Richardson, and Matt Ross. The front gate was open at 2:30 p.m. for services.
His pallbearers were: Jerry Adams, Brandon Adams, Tyler Adams, Richard J. Corman, Jay Richard Corman, David Page, Korey Colyer, and Andrew Bramlett. His honorary bearers were: Luther Deaton, William Walter Halfhill, Ben Taylor, David Irvin, Craig King, Fred Mudge, Gene Coconaugher, Tony Ingram, and Denver Shuman.
Rick was laid to rest next to the Headquarters Sign on his beloved property the R.J. Corman Railroad Group Headquarters at the Hanger where he so proudly displayed his passion and love of trains.
IN LOVING MEMORY
Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.
TRIBUTE IN MEMORY OF RICHARD "RICK" CORMAN,
Richard Jay "R.J." Corman, 58 years of age, of Nicholasville, Kentucky, lost his battle with cancer and departed this life about 11:00 a.m. at his home on Friday, August 23rd, 2013 while surrounded by his loving family.
Rick was born in Jessamine County, Kentucky on July 22nd, 1955, son of the late James William "Jay" and Maudie Houp Corman. He was a member of the Highbridge United Holiness Church. Rick built a backhoe business into a multimillion-dollar railroad and construction company (R.J. Corman Railroad Group). As the founder and sole owner of R.J. Corman Railroad Group, Rick presided over the Nicholasville-based company that became one of only two major companies offering 24-hour emergency derailment cleanup for railways. The company employs more than 1,150 people in 21 states.
His paternal grandfather, Carl Corman, made 11-year-old Rick a 25 percent partner in a business that hauled cattle, hogs and junk. After graduating from high school in 1973, Rick learned the excavation business through his uncle, Clay Corman, and then bought a backhoe and a dump truck to pick up whatever jobs he could. The dump truck was red, which, along with silver, became the signature colors for every locomotive, truck, helicopter, and jet plane in the R.J. Corman fleet.
Rick's first exposure to the railroad business came when he was hired to do backhoe work for the old L&N Railroad, digging out and repairing railroad crossings. He developed a reputation for doing this work better and faster. The seeds for the growth of the Corman empire were planted in 1984, when Congress began deregulating the railroad industry with what is known as the Staggers Act. Larger railroads began to get rid of small stretches of unprofitable rail line. They also began to farm out maintenance, construction, derailment cleanups and other jobs they found too costly to specialized and often non-union organizations like Rick's. His first acquisition as a railroad owner was a 20-mile short line he bought in 1987 in the Bardstown area from the old L&N Railroad. On that stretch, he started My Old Kentucky Dinner Train in 1988. Using a rail car that was part of President Dwight D. Eisenhower's 1969 funeral cortege, the dinner train still takes excursions through the rolling countryside north of Bardstown as diners feast on entrees such as prime rib or barbecued scallops.
In 1996, R.J. Corman Railroad Group acquired the Allentown and Pennsylvania lines from Conrail, the reorganized set of railroads that had gone into bankruptcy in the 1970's. R.J. Corman Railroad Group operates more than 600 miles of short-line railroads, which carry peanuts, aluminum ingots, alcohol, paper, plastic, fertilizer, limestone, scrap paper, brick, corn syrup and oil. The company's "storm team" also fixed railroads damaged by hurricanes, floods, blizzards, etc.
Rick and his company were the largest philanthropic supporters of St. Joseph Hospital. They provided the money to establish St. Joseph-Jessamine R.J. Corman Ambulatory Care Center in Nicholasville in 2009. And the company provided a gift to the St. Joseph Hospital Foundation to bring digital mammography services to the Nicholasville center in 2013. When Jessamine County received a donated 1925 steam locomotive and coal car to display in a local park, they were moved at no cost to taxpayers by Rick's company. He also donated a red caboose that was once displayed in Carlisle and put down the section of track on which the train now rests in Riney B Park (the park is named for a railroad line) off the U.S. 27 Bypass in Nicholasville.
Rick was survived by his partner in life, Tammie Taylor of Nicholasville, Kentucky; five children, Amy (and her husband, David) Page of Nicholasville, Kentucky, Richard Justin (and his wife, Amanda) Corman of North Carolina, Jay Richard (and his wife, Rebekah) Corman of Nicholasville, Kentucky, Ashley Corman (and her fiancé, Andrew Bramlett), and April (and her husband, Korey) Colyer; four grandchildren Caroline and Ben Page and Richard and Abigail Corman; one sister, Sandy (and her husband, Jerry) Adams; two nephews, Brandon Adams and Tyler Adams; and a host of other family and friends who mourn his passing.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jay Corman, who departed this life on January 8th, 1986 and Maudie Corman, who departed this life on July 13th, 1995.
Visitations were held from 1:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 25th, 2013 in Hangar 1 on the property of R.J. Corman Railroad Group at 101 R.J. Corman Drive in Nicholasville, Kentucky. The Hager & Cundiff Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements for Rick.
Funeral services were held at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, August 26th, 2013 also at Hangar 1 on the property of R.J. Corman Railroad Group with speakers, Jon Weece, Rev. Wayne Smith, Dr. Paul Richardson, and Matt Ross. The front gate was open at 2:30 p.m. for services.
His pallbearers were: Jerry Adams, Brandon Adams, Tyler Adams, Richard J. Corman, Jay Richard Corman, David Page, Korey Colyer, and Andrew Bramlett. His honorary bearers were: Luther Deaton, William Walter Halfhill, Ben Taylor, David Irvin, Craig King, Fred Mudge, Gene Coconaugher, Tony Ingram, and Denver Shuman.
Rick was laid to rest next to the Headquarters Sign on his beloved property the R.J. Corman Railroad Group Headquarters at the Hanger where he so proudly displayed his passion and love of trains.
IN LOVING MEMORY
Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.
Richard Jay "R.J." Corman, 58 years of age, of Nicholasville, Kentucky, lost his battle with cancer and departed this life about 11:00 a.m. at his home on Friday, August 23rd, 2013 while surrounded by his loving family.
Rick was born in Jessamine County, Kentucky on July 22nd, 1955, son of the late James William "Jay" and Maudie Houp Corman. He was a member of the Highbridge United Holiness Church. Rick built a backhoe business into a multimillion-dollar railroad and construction company (R.J. Corman Railroad Group). As the founder and sole owner of R.J. Corman Railroad Group, Rick presided over the Nicholasville-based company that became one of only two major companies offering 24-hour emergency derailment cleanup for railways. The company employs more than 1,150 people in 21 states.
His paternal grandfather, Carl Corman, made 11-year-old Rick a 25 percent partner in a business that hauled cattle, hogs and junk. After graduating from high school in 1973, Rick learned the excavation business through his uncle, Clay Corman, and then bought a backhoe and a dump truck to pick up whatever jobs he could. The dump truck was red, which, along with silver, became the signature colors for every locomotive, truck, helicopter, and jet plane in the R.J. Corman fleet.
Rick's first exposure to the railroad business came when he was hired to do backhoe work for the old L&N Railroad, digging out and repairing railroad crossings. He developed a reputation for doing this work better and faster. The seeds for the growth of the Corman empire were planted in 1984, when Congress began deregulating the railroad industry with what is known as the Staggers Act. Larger railroads began to get rid of small stretches of unprofitable rail line. They also began to farm out maintenance, construction, derailment cleanups and other jobs they found too costly to specialized and often non-union organizations like Rick's. His first acquisition as a railroad owner was a 20-mile short line he bought in 1987 in the Bardstown area from the old L&N Railroad. On that stretch, he started My Old Kentucky Dinner Train in 1988. Using a rail car that was part of President Dwight D. Eisenhower's 1969 funeral cortege, the dinner train still takes excursions through the rolling countryside north of Bardstown as diners feast on entrees such as prime rib or barbecued scallops.
In 1996, R.J. Corman Railroad Group acquired the Allentown and Pennsylvania lines from Conrail, the reorganized set of railroads that had gone into bankruptcy in the 1970's. R.J. Corman Railroad Group operates more than 600 miles of short-line railroads, which carry peanuts, aluminum ingots, alcohol, paper, plastic, fertilizer, limestone, scrap paper, brick, corn syrup and oil. The company's "storm team" also fixed railroads damaged by hurricanes, floods, blizzards, etc.
Rick and his company were the largest philanthropic supporters of St. Joseph Hospital. They provided the money to establish St. Joseph-Jessamine R.J. Corman Ambulatory Care Center in Nicholasville in 2009. And the company provided a gift to the St. Joseph Hospital Foundation to bring digital mammography services to the Nicholasville center in 2013. When Jessamine County received a donated 1925 steam locomotive and coal car to display in a local park, they were moved at no cost to taxpayers by Rick's company. He also donated a red caboose that was once displayed in Carlisle and put down the section of track on which the train now rests in Riney B Park (the park is named for a railroad line) off the U.S. 27 Bypass in Nicholasville.
Rick was survived by his partner in life, Tammie Taylor of Nicholasville, Kentucky; five children, Amy (and her husband, David) Page of Nicholasville, Kentucky, Richard Justin (and his wife, Amanda) Corman of North Carolina, Jay Richard (and his wife, Rebekah) Corman of Nicholasville, Kentucky, Ashley Corman (and her fiancé, Andrew Bramlett), and April (and her husband, Korey) Colyer; four grandchildren Caroline and Ben Page and Richard and Abigail Corman; one sister, Sandy (and her husband, Jerry) Adams; two nephews, Brandon Adams and Tyler Adams; and a host of other family and friends who mourn his passing.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jay Corman, who departed this life on January 8th, 1986 and Maudie Corman, who departed this life on July 13th, 1995.
Visitations were held from 1:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 25th, 2013 in Hangar 1 on the property of R.J. Corman Railroad Group at 101 R.J. Corman Drive in Nicholasville, Kentucky. The Hager & Cundiff Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements for Rick.
Funeral services were held at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, August 26th, 2013 also at Hangar 1 on the property of R.J. Corman Railroad Group with speakers, Jon Weece, Rev. Wayne Smith, Dr. Paul Richardson, and Matt Ross. The front gate was open at 2:30 p.m. for services.
His pallbearers were: Jerry Adams, Brandon Adams, Tyler Adams, Richard J. Corman, Jay Richard Corman, David Page, Korey Colyer, and Andrew Bramlett. His honorary bearers were: Luther Deaton, William Walter Halfhill, Ben Taylor, David Irvin, Craig King, Fred Mudge, Gene Coconaugher, Tony Ingram, and Denver Shuman.
Rick was laid to rest next to the Headquarters Sign on his beloved property the R.J. Corman Railroad Group Headquarters at the Hanger where he so proudly displayed his passion and love of trains.
IN LOVING MEMORY
Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sun on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die.
Gravesite Details
Rick was diagnosed in 2001 with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer that attacks the plasma cells in bone marrow and destroys bones.
