Hays Watkins Visiting CEO Lecture Series

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The Hays Watkins Visiting CEO Professorship (or Lecture Series) is an endowment at Western Kentucky University (WKU) named for Hays Watkins, an alumnus of WKU's predecessor institution and former chairman and CEO of CSX Corporation. The gift from Watkins, established in 1999, funds the bringing of prominent CEOs to WKU's Gordon Ford College of Business to share their business leadership insights and experiences with students. [1, 2, 3, 4]

About the Professorship/Lecture Series

• Origin: The endowment was established with a gift from Hays Watkins, a graduate of the Bowling Green Business University, which was the precursor to WKU. [1]
• Purpose: To bring visiting CEOs to the university to provide students with practical insights into business leadership and different industry practices. [2, 4]
• Impact: The series provides a unique opportunity for students to learn from experienced executives, covering topics such as strategic planning, innovation, and the economic impact of industries. [2, 4]

Hays Watkins

Hays T. Watkins created an endowment in 1999 that allows the GFCB to bring CEOs from across the country to provide WKU students with insight into business leadership and practice. Mr. Watkins is chairman emeritus of CSX Corporation, based in Richmond, Virginia. CSX is an international transportation company providing rail, intermodal, container shipping, and contract logistics services worldwide. Mr. Watkins graduated from the Bowling Green Business University in 1947 and was inducted into the WKU Hall of Distinguished Alumni in 1997.

• Bob Best, Atmos Energy
• Warren Buffett, Chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway
• William Carstanjen, Churchill Downs CEO
• Bracken Darrell (then Whirlpool Europe, Current CEO VFC)
• David Dillon, Kroger Chairman of the Board and CEO
• Bill Johnson, CEO and President of TVA
• Kay Meggers, EVP and Group President for Global Rolled Products Arconic
• Joe Natcher, CEO of Southern Foods
• Mary & Ted Nixon, Yum Brands Executives
• Major General Ted Nicolas, US Air Force
• Bill Samuels Maker’s Mark
• Vic Richey, ESCO Tech CEO
• Stephen Williams, CEO or Norton Healthcare Inc.
• Carl Whitmer, IASIS Healthcare CEO

Other recent Speakers of note in the GFCB

• Malcolm Forbes (BBT center for capitalism)
• Richard Davis, US Bank President and Chairman (CLE)