Rick VanAken was born and raised in Livingston. He graduated from Park High in 1964 and went on to be a MBA from the University of Montana graduating in 1974.
VanAken put in more than 30 years of service with BNSF Railway. He spent seven years in Livingston, three in Seattle, 10 in Missoula, and 10 in Great Falls. He was also the union local president, treasurer, and legislative representative for 20 years. He retired from BNSF in 2006.
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"Livingston's special to me because it's my hometown and hasn't physically changed much since I was a kid, and the changes that have taken place have been gradual, largely self-induced, and not yet overwhelming. The railroad provided Livingston's identity from birth, Yellowstone Park was its greatest influence during its youth, and now I see it aging vibrantly and gracefully into the modern age. But with the railroad's departure, it seems to me that we're suffering from a bit of an identity crisis (or maybe split personality) and we need to figure out who/what we are---Yellowstone gateway tourism town, bedroom community for Bozeman, agricultural center, maybe still a railroad industrial hub, or perhaps a cosmopolitan combination of all of the above. A great river runs by Livingston, but a railroad still runs through it.," - Rick VanAken.
Contact: rick.vanaken@gmail.com 406-222-5779