Palmetto State News

Not only is the new president and chief executive officer of Palmetto Railways "grateful for the opportunity to lead," he's no stranger to the operation.

Effective Jan. 4, Palmetto Railways Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Patrick McCrory will succeed President and CEO Jeffrey McWhorter, according to a recent news release by the organization.

"I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity to lead the Palmetto Railways team after learning from and working alongside Jeff for nearly a decade," McCrory said in the release. "During my time here, Palmetto Railways' and South Carolina's freight rail infrastructure and volumes have continued to grow, with an increasing emphasis on the importance of safety, economic development and efficient and reliable rail service."

McWhorter, who joined Palmetto Railways in 1984 and was appointed as President and CEO in 2007 by then South Carolina Department of Commerce (DOC) Secretary Joe E. Taylor, Jr., is retiring after 37 years with the railroad.

Palmetto Railways, Class III short line railroad, is an enterprise agency of the state of South Carolina and a division of the DOC. 

Palmetto Railways handles more than 100,000 carloads a year.

McCrory joined Palmetto Railways in 2013, after previously working in management roles with CSX Intermodal Terminals and APM Terminals. He has a BS degree in logistics and intermodal transportation from the United States Merchant Marine Academy, and a master's degree in transportation management with a focus in supply chain operations from the University of Denver. 

McCrory is a member of the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association, the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association, the Intermodal Association of North America and the Maritime Association of South Carolina. He also is a nine-year veteran of the U.S. Navy Reserve where he serves as a Strategic Sealift Officer.

"Patrick's executive leadership service with Palmetto Railways, coupled with extensive rail transportation and logistics experience throughout his career, has prepared him to lead one of South Carolina’s oldest rail providers," DOC Secretary Harry M. Lightsey III said in the release. "Separately, we’re deeply grateful for Jeff's service to Palmetto Railways, maintaining a track record of success and aligning the organization and our state for long-term success in rail transit."