O’Fallon Rotary president finds joy in helping others succeed

Lex White moved to the O’Fallon area in 1999 to get closer to his job with CSX Railroad.

“At the time, CSX was purchasing Conrail,” he said.

In 2001, Lex met his future wife, Stephanie. They married one year later. Stephanie and Lex have two children: Olivia, 11, and Lex Jr., who recently turned 10.

All in all, White said he is inspired by his wife, daily. Stephanie, who earlier worked as a buyer with the May Co., is now a stay at home mother.

“To say she has done a monumental job raising our children against tough odds is inspiring,” said White, who was recently elected as the new noon Rotary president in O’Fallon.

White joined the Rotary in 2009.

“I guess it fills a human need that everyone has, or I’d like to think everyone,” he said.

Professionally, White manages CSX’s intermodal terminal located between Washington Park and Fairmont City. This terminal serves domestic and international intermodal freight. His job keeps him busy.

“But I’m lucky to be employed,” he said.

Like his wife, White said his mother, Joy, has been an inspiration throughout his life. His dad, who was a chief financial officer with Oscar Meyer, died from a massive heart attack.

“I was about seven or eight years old at the time,” White said.

His mother remained positive, encouraged her to son to never give up in his life.

“It’s learning from your mistakes,” he recalled his mom saying. “If you lose, but you learn from it, then it’s not a loss,” he said.

White graduated from Florida State University in 1992 with a finance and international business degrees.

After college, he went to work with Sealand in Dallas. Sealand was a subsidiary with CSX. While at Sealand, White was transferred to CSX’s trucking division.

In 1999, White moved to Fairview Heights after he was given an opportunity to come to work at the local intermodal terminal. White envisioned that this was something he would do for a little while. But he expected he’d go back to work in the CSX corporate headquarters.

That, however, never materialized. Furthermore, White said he enjoys his job, and being “where things happens.”

“I have enjoyed this opportunity,” he said. “It does give me satisfaction knowing that in my own way I’m helping to make sure that the goods people depend on are getting there.”

When he isn’t working, White said he enjoys spending time with his family.

He is also big into crossfit, a conditioning program built around improving not just cardiovascular endurance, but also strength, power, flexibility, stamina, agility, coordination and balance, using a wide variety of exercises and high-intensity weight training.

Looking forward, White hopes his children will enjoy their own successful lives. At the same time, White said he now tries to portray with his children the importance of helping others.

“That’s where I really have had my joy in life,” he said. “That’s not to suggest I’ve celebrated my own successes. We all do. But, being able to help others achieve is what I most enjoy.”

This story was originally published July 9, 2016 at 12:00 PM with the headline "O’Fallon Rotary president finds joy in helping others succeed."