Howard L. Hawks
1044 North 115th Street, Suite 400
Omaha, NE 68154-4446
(402) 691-9539
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District 2

Vice Chairman 2004, 2013
Re-elected 2008
Chairman 2005
Elected to the Board of Regents in 2002

Personal and Professional

• Born in Carleton, Nebraska, on June 2, 1935. Reared in Denver, Colorado and Bruning, Nebraska
• Married to Rhonda Hawks, two stepdaughters
• Married to Myrna Hawks until her death in 2001, three sons
• Tenaska - 1987-present
  Founder and chairman of Tenaska, an independent energy company known for its expertise in power plant development, ownership and operations; natural gas and electric power marketing; natural gas exploration and production; and private equity fund management
• Chairman, Tenaska Capital Management, LLC, manager of the Tenaska Power Fund and TPF II - private equity limited partnerships formed to invest in the energy industry
• Founder and Chairman of the Hawks Foundation - 1994-present
• Endowed Howard Hawks Chair in Business Ethics and Leadership at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln (UNL) College of Business Administration, 2003
• InterNorth/Enron Corp. - 1966-1986
  Served as president of three subsidiary operating groups:
  • Northern Natural Resources
  • Northern Liquid Fuels Group
  • Northern Plains Natural Gas Company
• General Motors - 1957-1966

Awards and Honors

• Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska Douglas E. Parrott Faith in Action Award (2010)
• Honorary Chair for University of Nebraska Medical Center Ambassador of Hope Gala (2010)
• American Red Cross Spirit of Philanthropy Award (2009)
• Project Harmony “Speaking of Children”, Honorary Chair (2009)
• Omaha Habitat for Humanity 2008 Women’s Build, Honorary Chair
• Salvation Army "Others" Award (2007)
• United Way Citizen-of-the-Year (2007)
• Beta Gamma Sigma Medallion for Entrepreneurship (2006)
• Leadership Family Award, Heartland Family Service (2006)
• Humanitarian Award from National Conference for Community Justice (2006)
• Honorary Chair for the Community Alliance's "Breaking the Silence" event (2005, 2006)
• Honorary Chair for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Gala (2005)
• Volunteer of the Year Award from (Nebraska) Thayer County Hospital (2005)
• Methodist Hospital Foundation's "Spirit of Philanthropy" Award (2005)
• Omaha Community Playhouse Gala, Honorary Chair
• UNL College of Business Administration Lifetime Achievement Award (2004)
• Finalist for CEO of the Year in the Energy Industry by Platts Power Magazine (2003, 2004)
• Downtown Omaha Rotary Club Free Enterprise Award (2003)
• Omaha Business Hall of Fame (2002)
• Methodist Hospital Honorary Board Member (2001)
• Clarence Swanson Memorial Award for Outstanding Dedication to the University and to Nebraska Football (2000)
• UNO College of Business Administration Distinguished Alumni Award (1999)

Education

• Master of Business Administration, University of Nebraska at Omaha, 1971
• Bachelor of Science in Accounting, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 1957
• Bruning High School, Bruning, Nebraska, 1953

Community Activities
Current

• Ak-Sar-Ben Future Trust, Board of Directors
• Creighton University, Board of Directors
• Heritage Services Board of Directors
• Joslyn Art Museum, Board of Governors
• Joslyn Art Museum, Bodmer Society Member
• Joslyn Art Museum, Durham Center for Western Studies Advisory Committee
• Lasting Hope Recovery Center, Co-founder
• Methodist Hospital, Advisory Board of Trustees Committee
• Mid-American Council Boy Scouts of America, Board of Trustees
• Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo Foundation, Board of Directors and Executive Committee
• Omaha Zoological Society, Board of Trustees
• Supporter of other area colleges, including Midland Lutheran College and Luther Seminary
• University of Nebraska Board of Regents
• University of Nebraska Foundation Advisory Committee

Past

• Assistance League of Omaha, Advisory Board
• Boys & Girls Club of Omaha, Board of Governors
• Boys Club, Board of Governors, President
• Creighton – Nebraska Universities Health Foundation, Board of Directors
• Dana College Legacy Campaign; 2000-2001 Capital Fund Drive, Chair
• Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors
• Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, Omaha Business Hall of Fame Selection Committee
• Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, Presidents Club, President
• Ironwood Golf & Country Club, Board of Directors
• Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben, Board of Governors
• Lutheran Church of the Master, Strategic Planning Committee, Council Member
• Madonna School 2008 Capital Campaign, Chair
• Martin Luther Homes Strategic Planning Committee, Chair
• Methodist Hospital, Board of Trustees
• Mid-American Council Boy Scouts of America, Chair of Citizen of the Year Event (2003)
• Midland Lutheran College Vision 2000 Capital Campaign (1997-2000), Chair
• Nebraska Business Higher Education Forum
• North American Electric Reliability Council, Vice Chair of Stakeholder Committee
• Omaha Symphony Association, Board of Directors
• Salvation Army Tree of Lights Campaign and Kettle Klub, 2002 Honorary Vice Chair; 2003 Honorary Chair
• University of Nebraska Foundation Board of Directors