Robert T. McCowan

Robert Taylor McCowan (July 28, 1928 – November 12, 2003) was an American businessman, president of Ashland Petroleum, executive vice chairman of Ashland, Inc.(1980), board of trustees member of the University of Kentucky from 1981 to 1988, and subsequent chairman of the board from 1984 to 1989.

Early life and education McCowan was born in Carlisle, Kentucky, on July 28, 1928. He was the son of William Ray McCowan Sr. and Susan Margaret Taylor, both Kentucky natives. He spent most of his early life in Lexington, Kentucky, where he attended Maxwell Elementary and Morton Junior High schools and graduated from Henry Clay High School in 1946.

He grew up on Rose Street in Lexington just across from University of Kentucky’s old Stoll Field/McLean Stadium and spent much of his youth on UK's campus. His childhood consisted of sneaking into UK's old Alumni Gymnasium to watch the Kentucky Wildcats practice under Coach Adolph Rupp. Those experiences sparked a passion for UK athletics that would span his whole life.

McCowan attended the University of Kentucky between 1946 and 1951, and earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from the UK College of Commerce, now the Gatton College of Business and Economics. As a UK student, he was president of the Student Union Board and was awarded membership in Omicron Delta Kappa – a leadership honorary, Beta Gamma Sigma – a commerce scholastic honorary, and Lamp and Cross – honorary given to seniors displaying outstanding leadership. As an alumnus, he was elected to a seat at the Directors Table of Beta Gamma Sigma.

After graduating from the University of Kentucky, he completed the University of Illinois Executive Development Program in 1964. He worked for Ashland, Inc. from 1951 to 1988 – rising through the ranks to become the company's vice chairman in 1980.

Career McCowan's association with Ashland began by chance when he was a student at UK and encountered a recruiter named Jim Hiatt, in the university's old commerce building. McCowan, then president of the student union, asked whether there was a problem when he saw his visibly upset. Hiatt came to recruit seniors for a company called Ashland Oil, but no one had set up a table for him or lined up interviewees. McCowan told Hiatt he could interview him right then and there, and so he did and was hired.

"He was a driving force in the growth of the former Ashland Petroleum Company, particularly in the marketing arena," said Ashland chairman and chief executive officer James J. O'Brien. "He was instrumental in shaping and advocating Ashland's views on public policy, including energy policy education." During that year, he was later elected executive vice chairman of the board at Ashland, Inc. and continued to serve in that capacity until his retirement in 1988.

Personal life His courage in making tough decisions was attributed to the resilience he showed as a teenager when he was left badly disfigured after a horrible burn accident. During High School, he went to a cookout at Herrington Lake with friends, and was involved in a severe burn accident due to a spark from a nearby camp fire when it went into a can of gasoline he was holding. The can exploded in his hands, leaving him terribly burned. McCowan was only 17 years old at the time of the accident and had to go through an extended period of treatment, including multiple surgeries. In spite of the accident, he did not let the experience deter him. "He weathered that like a sailor," Bob Bell, former executive of Ashland Oil and long-time friend, said concerning his resolve. "He got a grip on himself. It was the first indication I had of his courage and spirit and his general positive, upbeat outlook on life ... It was a courageous thing for him to go through. He just didn't let it stop him." The University of Kentucky awarded him an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 1978 and also bestowed its Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1980.

As UK's board chairman, McCowan led the university's effort to hire David Roselle as president following Otis A. Singletary’s retirement. He also chaired the board through the NCAA’s investigation and probation of the UK basketball program in the late 1980s.

"He was a very good leader," Roselle said."He was proud, never arrogant - strong, never a bully. He was everything good and nothing bad." Chairman of the Fellows Executive Committee Chairman of the Kentucky Center on Public Issues Director of Cardinal Hill Hospital and the Kentucky Health Care Access Foundation Honorary director of the American Petroleum Institute Member of the First Bank & Trust Company of Ashland Member of the (NAM) Member of the 25 Year Club of the Petroleum Industry Member of the Kentucky Coal Policy Council and the Kentucky Economic Development Corporation

Recognition Honorary Doctor of Laws degree by the University of Kentucky in 1978 Distinguished Alumni Award in 1978