Florida Southern College in Lakeland has inducted three prominent names into the newly established Barney Barnett School of Business and Free Enterprise Hall of Fame.
The honor recognizes “individuals whose leadership and vision have left an enduring mark on the College, the business school, and the broader community,” the school said in a news release.
The inaugural class consists of Barney Barnett, Bill Becker and Ed Crenshaw.
From left, Bill Becker, Barney Barnett and Ed Crenshaw are the first inductees into Florida Southern College’s newly established Barney Barnett School of Business and Free Enterprise Hall of Fame.
Barnett, for whom the school is named, is a 1965 graduate of Florida Southern, a retired executive with Publix Super Markets Inc. and a philanthropist.
Becker, also a 1965 graduate, is a longtime entrepreneur whose generosity made possible the Becker Business Building, now home to nearly 900 business students, the release said.
Crenshaw is the former CEO and chairman of Publix and founding chair of the school’s advisory board. His leadership was critical in helping the school achieve and maintain its accreditation, the release said.
“This Hall of Fame recognizes individuals whose impact reaches far beyond their own careers, shaping the lives of our students, strengthening our programs, and enriching our community,” Michael Weber, dean of the Barney Barnett School of Business and Free Enterprise, said in the release. “Their lasting commitment has helped lay the foundation for who we are today and where we are headed in the future.”
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Florida Southern business school’s new Hall of Fame has its first class