William H. Lane
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November 22, 1923
William H. Lane | |
|---|---|
| Born | William Homer Lane November 22, 1923 |
| Died | June 28, 1980 (aged 56) |
| Alma mater | University of Tennessee (1947) |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | CEO of Riviana Foods; chair of the Masters |
| Spouse | Dorothy Lane |
| Children | 3 |
| Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club | |
| In office April 11, 1976 – 1978 | |
| Preceded by | Clifford Roberts |
| Succeeded by | Hord Hardin |
William "Bill" Homer Lane (November 22, 1923 – June 28, 1980) was an American business executive who was CEO of Riviana Foods and a director at Colgate-Palmolive. He also served as the second chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and The Masters from 1976 to 1978.
William Homer Lane was born on November 22, 1923 to father William Quincy Lane; he had a brother, Richard. Lane was raised in Maryville, Tennessee, where he attended Maryville High School and was quarterback on the football team.[1][2] He also took up golf at the age of 12, playing at Green Meadow Country Club.[1] During World War II, Lane served as a naval officer. He studied at the University of Tennessee (class of 1947), where he was a member of Sigma Chi, and Georgia Tech.[1][3][4] In 1960, Lane moved to Houston to work for Riviana Foods, then known as River Brand Rice Mills, where he became CEO and president.[5][6] Lane oversaw in 1968 Riviana's majority acquisition of Hebrew National.[7]
Lane was a trustee of Rice University from 1972 and a director at the Texas Commerce Bank and Colgate-Palmolive.[8][9]
Lane supported Texas Democratic senator Lloyd Bentsen, and was campaign chairman for Bentsen's 1976 presidential run.[5]