Frank Hawkins Kenan

Mr. Kenan's vision was for the Institute to serve as a catalyst for collaborations among public and private organizations, harnessing their knowledge, expertise and resources to promote the growth of private enterprise worldwide and using private-sector resources to serve the public interest. The Institute strives to continue Mr. Kenan's legacy—his spirit of entrepreneurship, exceptional business acumen and thirst for innovation.

Born August 3, 1912, in Atlanta, Ga., Mr. Kenan received a bachelorīs degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1935. He founded an independent oil distribution business, Kenan Oil, which grew into Kenan Transport Co., a $50 million-a-year petroleum trucking company. His real estate ventures included Europa Center, University Square and Granville Towers in Chapel Hill, N.C., Capital Center in Raleigh, N.C., and Landfall in Wilmington, N.C.

Mr. Kenan guided much of the giving of the Kenan Trust during his lifetime. Under his direction, the Trust invested $42 million to endow 88 professorships at 56 colleges and universities. Mr. Kenan also helped create the National Center for Family Literacy.

Mr. Kenan served on the boards of directors of the medical, business, educational, arts and sciences and institutional development foundations at UNC-Chapel Hill and on the University's board of visitors. He received the General Alumni Association's Distinguished Service Medal, the Distinguished Alumnus Award, the Distinguished Service Award from the School of Medicine, the William R. Davie Award from the board of trustees and the University Award, the highest honor of the University of North Carolina. He was the first recipient of the North Carolina Philanthropy Award.