2008 Endowment Report - The Bill Daniels Chair of Business Ethics |
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Bill Daniels believed that his success in business was due to the principles that guided his life. These included honesty, integrity, humaneness, reliability, loyalty, innovation, and community spirit.
As a naval fighter pilot in World War II, Daniels was awarded the Bronze Star for his valor during an enemy attack on the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid. He also served during the Korean Conflict and retired with the rank of Commander.
In 1953, he established his first cable television system in Casper, and he would go on to operate hundreds of cable TV systems across the country. He became one of the nation’s leading businessmen and owned numerous professional sports teams, including the ABA’s Utah Stars and an Indy Race Car and was part-owner of the L.A. Lakers when they won five national championships. Daniels also brought his unique style to his philanthropic endeavors—a very personal concern for and involvement with individuals in need and the organizations that serve them. He spent his final years carefully defining his goals for the Daniels Fund, which carries on his legacy of generosity by providing college scholarships to deserving students and grants to nonprofit organizations in Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah.
Daniels was deeply concerned that lapses in business ethics were undermining confidence in the free market system. Honoring his concern in this area, the Daniels Fund has pledged the largest single private foundation contribution for an academic program endowment in the history of the University of Wyoming through $3 million in continued support of the Bill Daniels Chair of Business Ethics, which was established in 2005. The State of Wyoming is matching this ethics commitment through its UW endowment challenge program, for a total $6 million added to the existing endowment.
“All you have to do is read the paper to see that lapses in ethics are a big problem in business,” says Linda Childears, President and CEO of the Daniels Fund. “Colleges must do a better job teaching business ethics, and we believe that the University of Wyoming College of Business is emerging as a national leader in this important field.”
“We are just delighted by our partnership with the University of Wyoming and believe it is having a real impact across the state,” she added.
The Bill Daniels Chair of Business Ethics allows UW to further integrate business ethics concepts throughout the curriculum, to expand the program to the state's seven community colleges, and to provide opportunities for students to interact with business executives to better understand the ethical expectations and issues faced in the real world.
“The relationship we have with the Daniels Fund is as important as any we have at the college,” said Brent Hathaway, Dean of the College of Business. “This organization and its leadership team are truly devoted to the ideals of Bill Daniels. I can think of no better partner than the Daniels Fund for helping us integrate principle-based business ethics throughout Wyoming and the region.”
Photo:
Karren “Sparky” Turner (Program Officer, Daniels Fund), Brent Hathaway (Dean, College of Business), Richard McGinity (Bill Daniels Chair of Business Ethics), and Linda Childears (President, Daniels Fund)
Posted on Wednesday, May 20, 2009
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