McCombs School Honors Four Texans Who Mean Business

The McCombs School of Business Hall of Fame was established in 1983, in recognition of The University of Texas at Austin’s centennial celebration and to honor former students, faculty and other dedicated supporters of the university whose careers have brought distinction to the business school. McCombs recognized the following individuals at a reception and dinner October 26.

Frederick B. Hegi, Jr.

Frederick B. Hegi, Jr. is the founding partner of Wingate Partners, a Dallas-based private equity investment firm. For the past 12 years he has been chairman of the board of United Stationers, Inc., a company he helped build into the world’s largest wholesale distributor of office products. He was lead independent director of Lone Star Technologies until its sale this year. Previously, he served as chairman of Loomis, Fargo & Co. and Kevco, Inc.

Hegi serves on the boards of Hallmark Cards, Texas Capital Bancshares, Drew Industries and Austin Industries and is active in several Dallas-area philanthropic organizations. He is a member of the board of trustees for Southern Methodist University (SMU) and, along with his wife, co-chaired SMU’s Annual Fund Campaign in 1994-1995. He also co-chaired the major gifts campaign at Harvard Business School in 1998 and 2003. Hegi is an advisory director and former chairman of Interfaith Housing Coalition, and is a trustee of the Center for the Performing Arts Foundation, UT Southwestern Medical Foundation, Communities Foundation of Texas, First Presbyterian Foundation and UT Southwestern Board of Visitors.

Hegi’s involvement with The University of Texas at Austin includes service on the executive committee of the Chancellor’s Council, membership in the Littlefield Society and on the Commission of 125. He is also a member of the university’s Development Board and of the President’s Associates, a life member and past chair of the McCombs School Advisory Council, a former chair of the McCombs School of Business Foundation and a life member of Texas Exes.

Hegi has a BBA from SMU, an MBA from Harvard University and a Ph.D. from The University of Texas at Austin.

Hegi and his wife, Jan, have been married for 40 years and live in Dallas. They have two sons and four grandchildren.

William Johnson

William Johnson is the chairman, president and CEO of H. J. Heinz Company, one of the world’s largest food producers with almost $10 billion in annual sales. The longest-serving CFO in the food industry, Johnson began his career with Heinz more than 25 years ago as a general manager, was named president and CEO of Heinz Pet Products in 1988 and assumed leadership of StarKist Foods, Inc. in 1992. Johnson became president and chief operating officer of Heinz in 1996 and assumed the position of president and CEO in 1998. In 2000, Johnson was named the fifth chairman in Heinz’s 138-year history.

Prior to joining Heinz, Johnson worked for Drackett Company, Ralston Purina and Anderson-Clayton Foods.

Johnson sits on the board of directors for the Grocery Manufacturers of America and is an active supporter of many community organizations, chairing numerous events and campaigns. He served as a member of the national Athena Awards committee and chaired the 2001 annual campaign for the United Way of Pennsylvania as well as numerous local events, including the 2004 Pittsburgh Cultural Trust gala event. He is a past board member of the Extra Mile Education Foundation, the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and the University of Pittsburgh.

In 2006, Johnson received the inaugural Global Visionary Award from Helen Keller International for Heinz’s micronutrient program to combat childhood anemia. He also received the Marco Polo Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Chinese government on foreign business leaders, for Heinz’s support of the Chinese food industry.

Johnson is also active on The University of Texas at Austin campus as a member of the Chancellor’s Council, the Littlefield Society and the McCombs School Advisory Council.

He has a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California, Los Angeles, and an MBA from The University of Texas at Austin.

He and his wife, Susie, live near Pittsburgh and have a son and daughter who also work in the consumer products industry.

Red McCombs

Red McCombs is chairman and founder of Red McCombs Automotive Group and co-founder of Clear Channel Communications and McCombs Energy Corp., in addition to being actively involved in a variety of other businesses.

His affinity for sports, combined with his business acumen, prompted him to purchase several professional teams over the years. He is the former owner of the Minnesota Vikings, the Denver Nuggets and the San Antonio Spurs.

McCombs has served in leadership roles and chaired numerous fund drives for community organizations, including the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, United Way and San Antonio’s World Fair, HemisFair. He served as chairman of the board of trustees for Southwestern University and chairman of the board of visitors of the University Cancer Foundation at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

McCombs has been honored with recognition in the National Automobile Dealers Hall of Fame, the Texas Business Hall of Fame and the National Football Foundation’s College Hall of Fame. He has also received The Texas Sports Hall of Fame’s Lamar Hunt Lifetime Achievement in Sports Award. He is a Distinguished Alumnus of Southwestern University and The University of Texas at Austin.

On The University of Texas at Austin campus, McCombs is a member of the Chancellor’s Council, the Littlefield Society and the President’s Associates. McCombs is also a life member of the Longhorn Foundation Advisory Council, an honorary life chair of the McCombs School Advisory Council and a life member of the Texas Exes. In 2004, he was honored with the university’s Presidential Citation.

He and his wife Charline have three daughters and eight grandchildren, all of whom reside in San Antonio.

W.A. “Tex” Moncrief, Jr.

W.A. “Tex” Moncrief, Jr. has worked since 1945 as an independent oil and gas producer, involved in exploration, development and production with multiple interests in Texas and Wyoming, among other states. Prior to that, he served in the military as a U.S. naval officer in the Pacific Theater during
World War II.

A gifted amateur magician, his first and favorite trick “was poking holes in the ground and making oil pop out,” according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. That trick has led to much success for Moncrief.

He is president of the William A. and Elizabeth B. Moncrief Foundation. He and the foundation contribute to many educational, health, civic and cultural organizations. He was named to the Texas Philanthropy Hall of Fame in 2001.

He serves on the board of the Moncrief Cancer Foundation, is an honorary trustee for both The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Foundation and Texas Christian University and is a life member of the board of visitors for the University Cancer Foundation at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

His involvement with The University of Texas at Austin includes serving on the Board of Regents from 1987 to 1993. He is a member of the Chancellor’s Council, the Littlefield Society, the Commission of 125 and the President’s Associates. Moncrief is a life member of the Texas Exes.

Moncrief is a 1936 graduate of Culver Military Academy. In 1942, he received a bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering and in 1983 was named a Distinguished Engineering Graduate from The University of Texas at Austin.

Moncrief, his wife, Deborah, and four sons live in Fort Worth.