The saga of 'Pisser Bill'.

CULTURE conflict; THOMPSON, William F.; BURLINGTON Northern Inc.; BRESSLER, Richard; GRAYSON, Richard; RAILROAD mergers; ODE to a Jerk (Poem); CORPORATE vice-presidents

The author discusses the culture clash between William F. Thompson, vice president of operations of the St. Louis-San Francisco and the Burlington Northern (BN) upon its 1980 merger and the officials that operated BN before Thompson. Topics covered include how president of BN's holding company Richard Bressler wanted Thompson and Thompson's boss President Richard Grayson to run the merged railroad and how Thompson earned his nickname and a poem "Ode to a Jerk" written about him.