On March 1, 1871, George Hickey was born in Canada to William and Margaret Hickey. The family immigrated to the United States when he was 14. On May 2, 1895 he married Grace Bennett in Pocatello, Idaho, together they would have three children.

Working on the railroad was a passion for George. His long career began in Salt Lake City when he was hired as a car accountant at the age of 19. In 1910, his aptitude for railroading took him to Tucson,Arizona as an assistant supervisor. Ten years later he was in Omaha,Nebraska.

In 1921 he was hired to be the Vice President and General Manager of the NNRy. He would hold this position for thirty years. He led the railroad through the various boom and bust cycles of the mining industry, through the Great Depression and the declining years of the railroad’s passenger service.

As General Manager, he was not extremely well liked and was known to be exacting in his expectations. Regardless, he was highly respected for his knowledge and skills and ensured the railroads survival through some of its toughest times.

His career and the end of passenger service would occur the same year, with the last run of the main line passenger train arriving back in Ely on the evening of July 31, 1941.

Retirement did not come easily for George, originally he was suppose to retire in 1937 but held on for another four years. He and Grace moved to Reno, Nevada where he resided until his death on September 14, 1947 at the age of 76.