Eugene Knight England dies at 105; A Titan of the American Trucking Industry and Champion of the Kidney Community since 1990

Eugene Knight England (1919-2024) (Obituary)

“He was a great dad. The thing that my brothers and I loved most was when he’d take us with him, whether it was on a truck or doing some other kind of work. He always had time for us.”

Gene England was born and raised in Plain City, Gene England was a pioneer in the America’s fledgling trucking industry. He was a beloved husband, brother, father and grandfather. He lived to be 105 years old and credited Mountain Dew and a bag chips as his secret. As a young adult, he lived through the great depression, spent some time at Brigham Young University before he met and married June Daniels in 1940. He went on to fight in Okinawa, Japan during World War II, earning the distinction of a war hero with a bronze star. He was truly part of the Greatest Generation of Americans who lived by the core values of: duty, honor, economy, courage, service, love of family and country.

Gene was a transportation industry icon like his father Chester England before him. Chester England started his own trucking business buying produce from the valley and trucking it to areas around Cache Valley and up to Wyoming in the 1920s, bringing along sons Gene, Jeff and Bill England. During his 105 years Gene drove millions of miles, while leading his own company, CR England. Despite his many corporate responsibilities as CEO, Gene preferred getting behind the wheel of a truck  and doing the work. Even after turning 100 (in 2019) Gene England still came to work.

Mr. England once said “There are over 100 people in the state of Utah that are over 100 years of age. I’m very happy to (have been) able to reach an age and condition that allows me to do the things that I do and I don’t take pills. So I’m kind of an unusual guy in a little way.” Gene is described as a “lifelong advocate” for truck drivers and the trucking industry. He spent his life promoting the importance of the profession that had captivated him as a young boy.

“He leaves behind a legacy of integrity, hard work and a deep commitment to those who keep our country moving,” said the company. “Gene England’s passing is a great loss to the C.R. England family and the trucking industry at large. His legacy will live on through the lives he touched and the company he built.”

CR England has long been a cherished partner of the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) of Utah & Idaho. In 1996, the organization honored CR England with the Gift of Life Award, a recognition of their significant contributions to kidney research and support. This connection was deeply personal for the England family, as one of their sons suffered from kidney failure. The funds and grants raised through CR England have played a pivotal role in advancing nephrology research at the University of Utah.

In 1991, in honor of his brother, Jeff England launched the Great Salt Lake Truck Show. This annual event has become a cornerstone for raising funds to support kidney disease research and the NKF’s initiatives. Jeff, who also serves on the NKF Utah & Idaho Board of Directors, continues to be a driving force behind the show, which celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2023. The event funds a special kidney camp for families each year.

We are deeply grateful to the England family for their unwavering commitment to supporting those affected by kidney disease, paying forward their own experience to help countless other families in Utah.