Business Society Honorees

May 9, 2012

UT Tyler Office of Marketing and Communications

UT Tyler Business Honor Society Recognizes Faculty and Tyler Business Leader

May 9, 2012

Media Contact:  Hannah Buchanan
Editor/Writer–Strategic Communications & Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.539.7196 (cell)

Ma 9, 2012

The University of Texas at Tyler Beta Gamma Sigma recognized one faculty member and Tyler businessman Billy Hibbs, Jr. at its annual induction ceremony, Dr. Donna Dickerson, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs, announced.

Beta Gamma Sigma is the national honor society serving business programs accredited by AACSB International – The Association of Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

UT Tyler faculty inductee was Dr. Kerri M. Camp, UT Tyler assistant professor of marketing.

Hibbs, chairman and chief executive officer of Heartland Security Insurance Group, received the Beta Gamma Sigma Chapter Business Honoree Award in honor of his significant accomplishments in both business and the East Texas community.

Growing up in Tyler, Hibbs has spent his career expanding business and philanthropic interests to enhance the Tyler community. He is a graduate of Robert E. Lee High School. Hibbs also holds an associate degree from Tyler Junior College, a bachelor of business administration from UT Austin as well as a master of business administration from Southern Methodist University and a graduate banking degree from SMU’s Southwestern School of Banking.

In 2011, under his leadership, the Hibbs Family Foundation gifted the university with an endowment that created the UT Tyler Hibbs Institute for Business and Economic Research. This endowment is an example of the Hibbs’ support and belief in building and maintaining a vibrant business community in Tyler and the East Texas area.

His community involvements include serving as vice chair, City of Tyler Tax Increment Financing Board; director, Tyler Junior College Foundation and chairman, Investment Committee; director, East Texas Food Bank Foundation, chairman, Investment Committee; director, East Texas Symphony Foundation; secretary, Hibbs Family Foundation. He also is an active member of the Tyler Rotary Club, having served as president in 2002.

One of the 15 campuses of the UT System, UT Tyler offers excellence in teaching, research, artistic performance and community service. More than 80 undergraduate and graduate degree programs are available at UT Tyler, which has an enrollment of almost 7,000 high-ability students at its campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine.