(Dec. 4, 1945-Dec. 4, 2014). William G. (Bill) Mays was born to educators, Joy J. Mays and Theodore C. Mays Sr. on December 4, 1945, in Evansville, Indiana. Mays attended the all-black Lincoln High School in Evansville until his senior year. Mays graduated from Evansville Lincoln High School in 1963 and then went on to Indiana University in Bloomington, where he majored in Chemistry. Mays received an M.B.A. from Indiana University in 1973.

Mays began his career at Cummins Engine Company in Columbus, Indiana, before becoming president of Specialty Chemicals, a division of Chemical Investors (CI), at the time, a minority-owned company, located in Indianapolis. He founded the Mays Chemical Company in 1980, which went on to become one of the 20 largest chemical distributors in North America. In 1992, the company debuted at number 13 on the top 100 list of African American-owned businesses, compiled by the magazine, Black Enterprise

In 1990, Mays purchased The Indianapolis Recorder, the fourth-oldest Black newspaper in the nation. Under his ownership, The Recorder became profitable. Mays was a majority owner in several Indiana radio and television companies, a property management firm, golf courses, and construction companies. While known as “Indiana’s most successful African American businessman,” Mays was recognized for his significant civic and philanthropic contributions. He served on numerous corporate boards, including Anthem Insurance, inc.; Indiana Energy/Indiana Gas, Inc.; Bank One, Indiana; the Indiana State Chamber of Commerce. He served on national professional boards, such as The National Commission on Entrepreneurship, the National Minority Supplier Development Council, and the National Urban League board.

The philanthropic leadership of Bill Mays, embedded with a commitment to increasing awareness of diversity and inclusion, impacted numerous organizations and inspired many people to commit to philanthropy. In Indianapolis, he served as the first African American chair of the Campaign for the United Way Of Central Indiana, chair of the annual campaign for the Indianapolis Museum Of Art, and cochair of the Circle City Classic. Mays was a generous donor to the Indiana University Foundation, served on its board as well on Indiana University President’s Council, and the Dean’s Advisory Board for the Kelley School of Business.

For his business, civic, and philanthropic accomplishments, Mays received the Madame C. J. walker Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998. He received the Salvation Army “Others” Award (1994), the Dr. Robert W. Briggs Humanitarian Award (1995), the Indianapolis Black Chamber of Commerce Director’s Special Recognition Award (1996), the United Negro College Fund, Inc., Distinguished Leadership Award (1997), and was inducted into the Junior Achievement Central Indiana Business Hall of Fame (1998) and received the IUPUI Spirit of Philanthropy Award (2009). In 2010, he and his wife, Dr. Rose Mays, were honored by The Indiana Historical Society as Indiana Living Legends.

Posthumously, along with Dr. Rose Mays, Bill Mays received the Indiana University President’s Medal for Excellence (2015), awarded “for outstanding academic, artistic or professional accomplishments or to individuals for exceptional service to the university.” In 2015, the Mays Family Institute also began at the Indiana University Lilly Family School Of Philanthropy. The institute was founded on honoring his philanthropic leadership and his wife, Indiana University Professor Emeritus, Dr. Rose Mays, and their two children, Kristin Mays-Corbitt, President of Mays Chemical Heather Mays Wood, an educator.

Oral history clips courtesy of the Tobias Leadership Center at Indiana University.

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