The L. W. "Bill" Lane Professorship in Family Business Management
Ambassador and Mrs. L.W. “Bill” Lane, Jr. contributed funds in 1993 to establish the endowed professorship in family business management. Named for Ambassador Lane, the professorship serves OSU’s Family Business Program, which is part of the College of Business and provides information and training to family-owned and operated businesses.
Ambassador Lane, who was U.S. Ambassador to Australia from 1985-1989, is the retired chair of Lane Publishing Co. of Menlo Park, California, former publisher of Sunset magazine and books. The company was owned by the Lane family until it was acquired by Time Warner in 1990.
In 1991, Ambassador Lane was a Distinguished Visiting Lecturer in the Family Business Program, and his gift supports the continuation of that tradition. The Lane Professorship provides support for a Distinguished Lecture Series, which brings visiting experts to campus to share their experience with family business students. Since the fund was established, the following individuals have been guest lecturers: George Weyerhaeuser, Jr., Ken and Joan Austin, Payson Cha, Robert “Mac” MacTarnahan, Dr. Jean Mater, Richard D. Boyd, George H. Hume, Senator Mark O. Hatfield, Patricia C. Smullin, Loran Stewart, Franco and Fabrizio Torrini, Junki Yoshida, and John Shelk.
