Because of Mays’ mark on Indiana, we are still becoming

William “Bill” G. Mays Congratulations to all the distinguished recipients of the Champions of Diversity award, a prestigious accolade presented by the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper and Indiana Minority Business Magazine. It is truly a privilege to accept the William G. Mays Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award on behalf of my company, Professional Management Enterprises (PME), and our exceptional team at Team PME. In this moment of deep gratitude and humility, I would like to honor the legacy of the man behind the award – Mr. William “Bill” G. Mays. A beacon of resilience and success, Mr. Mays, born in Evansville, Indiana, in 1945, triumphed over a segregated educational system, emerging as the top male graduate of Evansville’s Lincoln High School in 1963. His academic journey led him to Indiana University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry in 1970 and a Master of Business Administration in 1973. Mr. Mays’ professional journey included roles at esteemed companies such as Procter & Gamble Co., Eli Lilly Company, and Cummins Engine Company. Notably, he resigned from the presidency of Specialty Chemicals in 1980, choosing integrity over compromise in the face of changing racial dynamics. In March 1980, Mays founded the Mays Chemical...