Thomas J. Potter  Thomas J. Potter (1840 – March 9, 1888) was vice-president and general manager of the Union Pacific Railroad. Charles Francis Adams, Jr. requested that he accept this job in 1887. He began his career with the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad and was offered a better position in 1873 with the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. With the latter firm he rose from assistant superintendent, to general manager, and then vice-president. Potter served successively as vice president of the St. Louis and Keokuk Railroad, the Chicago, Burlington and Kansas City Railroad, the Chicago and Iowa Railroad, the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad, and the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad. He died an untimely death at the age of 48. His remains were transported west on the Pennsylvania Railroad after he died at Welcker's Hotel in Washington, D.C., in 1888.