Rebel Great Mac Haik Supports Student Innovation

Feb. 4, 2018

By Bill Dabney OXFORD, Miss. "Mac Haik, of Houston, Texas, knows a little something about entrepreneurship. After a bad experience trying to buy his wife a car, the former Ole Miss and pro football player decided to open a dealership of his own.

Mac Haik Automotive Group has grown into the largest independent automotive company in Texas and, as one venture has led to another, Mac Haik Enterprises Inc. employs more than 3,250 associates and owns land, commercial office buildings, retail space, medical facilities, restaurants, hotels and outdoor media.

Haik's interest in starting businesses inspired his most recent donation to Ole Miss: a $50,000 gift that will support the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship within the School of Business Administration. Haik said he wants to challenge others to match his gift, which will be payable in $10,000 increments over the next five years.

"Mr. Haik is a builder of companies," said Clay Dibrell, CIE executive director. "His gift serves as a building block for the CIE and our student entrepreneurship programs. +Read More