People
August 12, 2026
Six Generations Strong: The Keck Family Carries Forward a Union Pacific Legacy
For Ashley Keck, joining Union Pacific was more than the start of a career. It was the continuation of a family legacy spanning nearly 150 years.
Growing up in Kearney, Nebraska, with deep family roots in North Platte, Ashley was always close to the railroad. Family gatherings often included railroad stories, and with dozens of relatives who built careers at Union Pacific, the company's impact extended through nearly every branch of the Keck family tree.
Today, Ashley is helping write the next chapter of that story as a sixth-generation railroader.
From Intern to Full-Time Employee
After graduating from Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska, where she played volleyball while earning a degree in business and marketing, Ashley joined Union Pacific in 2025 as a Marketing and Sales intern in Loup Logistics.
Now a full-time employee, Ashley serves as a key connection between customers, carriers and the railroad, helping coordinate shipments, manage appointments and keep freight moving efficiently across the network.
“There are so many different avenues you can take,” she said. “One of the great things about Union Pacific is the opportunity to learn about different departments and explore different career paths.”
A Family Tradition
The Keck family's railroad story began in the 1880s with William L. Keck, a crossing watchman in Lincoln, Nebraska. His son, Moses Keck, spent 22 years traveling with Bridge and Building gangs as a cook.
The next generation continued the tradition when Thomas William Keck Sr. worked 26 years as a carpenter in the Bridge and Building Department, serving in Valparaiso, Columbus and Grand Island, Nebraska, before retiring in 1944.
Over the next several generations, members of the Keck family continued building careers on the railroad. Among them was William “Bill” Keck Sr., who spent 43 years working as a switchman and brakeman. He began his career in Grand Island before transferring to North Platte, where he earned a reputation for his hard work and dedication. His example inspired many of his children to follow in his footsteps and pursue railroad careers of their own.
Steve Keck worked as a switchman, brakeman and locomotive engineer. Twins Kenny and Keven Keck built careers as conductors, while Dorothy Savory currently works in the Car Department. Ashley’s father, Richard Keck, is a signal maintainer and is entering into his 30th year with the railroad. With her father being the youngest of Bill Keck Sr.’s 10 children, Ashley grew up understanding how significant the railroad has been to her family. She estimates her family has more than 275 years of combined Union Pacific service.
“The railroad was always being talked about in our home,” she said. "It's always been there.”
While previous generations of Kecks worked on trains, in rail yards and alongside the tracks, Ashley supports the railroad from a different vantage point. Her work focuses on customer service, communication and logistics.
She’s not the only sixth-generation Keck at Union Pacific. Her cousin, Steve Keck II, recently joined as a special agent.
“I feel very fortunate to continue on this legacy and hope it continues for many more generations,” said Steve.
Carrying the Legacy into a New Generation
Despite the differences in roles over the years, the values passed down through the family remain unchanged.
"The railroad has always had a positive impact on our family," Ashley said.
Those values continue to guide Ashley as she builds her own career. Having recently made the transition from intern to full-time employee, she encourages current interns to take advantage of every opportunity available to them.
“Explore your options,” she said. “Talk to people, learn about different areas of the company and see what interests you. There are so many opportunities here.”
For Ashley, being a sixth-generation railroader is about more than continuing a family tradition. It's about being part of something larger than herself and contributing to an industry that has shaped her family for generations.
From a crossing watchman in the 1880s to a Loup Logistics employee helping customers navigate today's freight network, six generations of Kecks have found their place at Union Pacific. As Ashley continues building her career, she is adding her own chapter to a family story that has spanned more than a century.