James A. Haslam, II

 
James A. Haslam, II, founded Pilot Corporation in 1958 as a family-owned business with one gas station. Since that time, the company has grown to become the nation’s largest operator of travel centers and largest seller of over-the-road diesel fuel. Pilot owns and operates nearly 300 travel centers in 40 states coast to coast and recently opened a location in Canada. Pilot Travel Centers is also one of the largest restaurant operators in the U.S. Haslam serves on the boards of directors for several organizations and as a University of Tennessee trustee.

Over the years, he has served on dozens of boards of organizations in Knoxville and has received an equal number of awards in recognition of his service. A strong believer in giving back to the community, Haslam founded the Haslam Family Foundation, which has contributed millions of dollars to charitable organizations over the years. In 2006, President George W. Bush appointed Haslam as a member of the board of trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. In the political arena, Haslam has served as local finance chair for numerous state and national campaigns, such as Baker for Senate, Alexander for Governor and Bush for President. He also has served as a delegate to the Republican National Convention on four occasions and in 1984 was a member of the Platform Committee of the Republication National Convention.

Haslam is a 1952 graduate of the Unversity of Tennessee and a Korean War veteran. Married to Natalie Leach Haslam, the couple have six adult children and 18 grandchildren.