Prominent Hispanic Businessman to Speak at UW

Oct. 6, 2004 -- Cheyenne native Sol Trujillo, who has been referred to as the "highest-ranking Hispanic in American business," will speak Friday, Oct. 8, at 4:10 p.m. in the University of Wyoming College of Business auditorium, part of the college's Distinguished Speaker Series.

He is one of three graduates selected as UW's Distinguished Alumni for Homecoming 2004. A reception follows in the College of Business Reading Room.

Trujillo was the first UW student to earn an M.B.A. degree in just two semesters. Between his degrees, he interned with Mountain Bell Telephone Company and 20 years later, he became Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of US West. In May 2000, he received the university's highest honor, the Doctor of Laws degree.

He was chairman, president and CEO of US West from 1998-2000; and was elected chairman, president and CEO of Graviton, Inc., a wireless communication technology company, positions he held until February 2003; he served as director of Orange SA, a telecommunications company, from February 2003-March 2004. He currently is a director of Gannett Co., Inc. and PepsiCo, Inc.

Trujillo has received many honors including induction into the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council Hall of Fame; serving on governor-appointed commissions in Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico and on the boards of Bank of America and the Dayton Hudson Corp. He was named one of the "100 Most Influential Hispanics in the Nation" by Hispanic Business Magazine and has served as chairman of Race for the Cure.

He and his wife, Corine, now live in California.

Posted on Wednesday, October 06, 2004