2008 U.S. Business Hall of Fame Laureates

William H.G. France (1909-1992)
NASCAR Founder

France spearheaded NASCAR from its beginning and directed it to its present role as the world’s largest stock car racing organization. France came to Daytona Beach, Fla., in the 1930s. In 1936, he helped lay out the first beach/road course in Daytona Beach; in the first race on the course he finished fifth. Starting in 1938, he helped promote races on the sands.

As the sanctioning body’s first president, France built two superspeedways that came to personify the sport – Daytona International Speedway and Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. Along the way he also founded the International Speedway Corporation that operates those two tracks and others involved in NASCAR’s three national series – NASCAR NEXTEL Cup, NASCAR Busch Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck.

In 1972 France stepped down as president of NASCAR and handed the reins to his son William C. France. After retirement he was inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame, the International Motorsports Hall of Fame, the National Motorsports Press Association Hall of Fame and the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame.

Thomas F.  Frist, Jr., M.D.
Chairman Emeritus, Hospital Corporation of America (HCA)

Thomas F. Frist, Jr., M.D. is a member of the board of directors and co-founder of Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA, the nation’s leading provider of healthcare services.

HCA is the nation's leading provider of healthcare services, composed of locally managed facilities that include 170 hospitals and 113 outpatient centers in 20 states and England. At its founding in 1968, Nashville-based HCA was one of the nation's first hospital companies.

Dr. Frist began his hospital administrative career shortly after his service as a military flight surgeon. In 1968, he founded HCA in Nashville, with his father, the late Dr. Thomas F. Frist, Sr., and the late Jack C. Massey. In 1977, Dr. Frist became President of HCA and subsequently became Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer in 1987. Upon the merger of HCA with Columbia in February 1994, Dr. Frist served as Chairman of the Board and later as Vice Chairman, following the company’s April 1995 merger with HealthTrust Inc. He returned as Chairman and CEO of the company in 1997. He served as Chairman and CEO until January 2001 and as Chairman until January 2002.

Robert L. Johnson
Founder and Chairman
The RLJ Companies

Robert L. Johnson is the Founder and Chairman of The RLJ Companies, an innovative business network that owns or holds interests in a diverse portfolio of companies in the banking/financial services, real estate, hospitality, professional sports, film production, gaming and automotive industries.  In July 2007, Johnson was chosen by USA TODAY as one of the 25 most influential business leaders of the past 25 years.

Prior to forming The RLJ Companies, Mr. Johnson was founder and chairman of Black Entertainment Television (BET), the nation’s first and leading television network providing quality entertainment, music, news, sports and public affairs programming for the African American audience. Under Mr. Johnson’s leadership, BET became the first African American-owned company publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange. In 2000, Mr. Johnson sold BET to Viacom for approximately $3 billion and remained the Chief Executive Officer through 2005.

In addition to The RLJ Companies’ substantial holdings across a variety of industries, it owns the Charlotte Bobcats NBA franchise and arena operations in Charlotte, North Carolina—the first major sports franchise owned by African American.

Allen H. Neuharth
Founder, USA TODAY
Founder and Former Chairman, The Freedom Forum
Former Chairman and CEO, Gannett Co., Inc.

Allen H. Neuharth is the founder of the nation's most widely read newspaper, USA TODAY, and former chairman and chief executive officer of Gannett Co. Neuharth is also founder and senior advisory chairman of the Freedom Forum, a nonpartisan foundation dedicated to free press, free speech and free spirit for all people. The Freedom Forum funds and operates the Newseum, the First Amendment Center and the Diversity Institute.

Neuharth has authored eight books. His autobiography, Confessions of an S.O.B., had a long run on The New York Times and other bestseller lists. The hardcover book had five printings by Doubleday. The book has been translated into five languages.

Neuharth was born in1924 in Eureka, S.D. At age 11, he took his first job as a newspaper carrier and later as a youth worked in the composing room at the weekly Alpena (S.D.) Journal. After graduating from Alpena High School, he served as a combat infantryman in World War II, and was awarded the Bronze Star. After the war, Neuharth attended the University of South Dakota, where he majored in journalism. Upon graduation, he became a reporter for The Associated Press in Sioux Falls, S.D.

John E. Pepper, Jr.
Retired Chairman and CEO,
The Procter & Gamble Company

Three billion times a day, P&G brands touch the lives of people around the world. John Pepper spent a 40 year career in various positions at Procter & Gamble, including Chief Executive Officer and Chairman from 1995 – 1999 and Chairman of the Board from 2000 – 2002.  He served as Director of Procter & Gamble from 1984 – 2003 and President from 1986 – 1995.

He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of the Walt Disney Company and Co-Chairman of the Board of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. 

Pepper also serves on the Board of Boston Scientific Corporation and was a co-founder and currently is a member of the Executive Committee of the Cincinnati Youth Collaborative. 

Pepper graduated from Yale in 1960, where he served on the Board of the Yale Daily News.  He served as Fellow of the Yale Corporation from 1995 – 2003, including two years as Senior Fellow.

A native of Pottsville, Pennsylvania, Mr. Pepper holds honorary doctorate degrees from Yale University, Xavier University, Mount St. Joseph College, St. Petersburg University (Russia), Ohio State University and the University of Cincinnati.

Meg Whitman
President and CEO
eBay Inc.

Meg Whitman joined eBay as president and CEO in March 1998 when the company was still a small auction website with 30 employees and revenues of $4 million. With her expertise in brand building at top consumer companies, Meg has helped the Internet pioneer evolve into an unparalleled global e-commerce engine that continues to influence and reshape the way people trade, pay and communicate around the world.

Before eBay, Meg held executive positions at Hasbro, Inc.; FTD, the Stride Rite Corporation and at the Walt Disney Company.

Among Meg’s many accolades, The Wall Street Journal named her one of the 50 women to watch in 2005 and 2006; Fortune has consistently ranked her among the top three most powerful women in business; and BusinessWeek has included her on its list of the 25 most powerful business managers annually since 2000. She is also one of only five women to have been consecutively ranked among the world’s most influential people by Time Magazine.

In addition to serving on eBay Inc.’s Board of Directors, Meg is also on the boards of the eBay Foundation, Procter & Gamble and DreamWorks Animation.