Peavey Founder Receives Honorary Doctorate
May 18, 2004 7:27 PM
Mississippi State University (MSU) honored Peavey Electronics Corp. (www.peavey.com) founder Hartley Peavey with an honorary doctorate during its commencement ceremony on May 8, in Starkville, Mississippi. Peavey also delivered the keynote address to the 2,000-plus graduates.
As a tribute to the global success Peavey has achieved with his musical instrument and sound equipment company—which he founded in 1965, the same year he graduated from MSU—the state’s largest university presented him with an honorary doctor of creative and performing-arts degree.
“Hartley Peavey is recognized throughout the world as an authority on the music and audio industry, and he has built a company known for creativity and innovation,” says MSU President Charles Lee. “His success in a globally competitive industry has brought recognition and jobs to his home state and region, and he is a role model for our students as a technological innovator and entrepreneur.”
During his commencement address, Peavey stressed the importance of goals, focus, persistence, and realization of talents. “You’ve demonstrated a great degree of stickability,” he told the group, “but your job has just begun. A diploma is only a license to learn.”
Peavey drew from his personal business experiences and cautioned the graduates of the challenges posed by the international business community. “We have to work hard and work smart if we’re going to stay on top,” he said. “We’ve got to innovate. Everyone, regardless of their profession or field, is living in a global economy now, and everyone must compete not only with companies but also countries around the world.”
