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

Jack Congdon joined Old Dominion in 1951, and has held numerous positions within the company, including senior vice president and vice chairman of the board of directors. He was also 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 trailblazer 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,” said David Congdon, Old Dominion’s president and CEO, and Jack Congdon’s nephew. “A multitude of friends, family and colleagues at both companies mourn his loss.”

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 the family business, Old Dominion Freight Line. Jack participated in growing the company through a number of geographic expansions and acquisitions with his knowledge of equipment management and dedicated logistics.

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 is also survived by his older 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.