NASCAR founder France named to Business Hall

Colorado Springs, Colo. -- Junior Achievement on Thursday announced the inductees into its 2008 U.S. Business Hall of Fame, one of the most prestigious honors awarded for success in the business world. Junior Achievement selects inductees for their business excellence, courageous thinking and actions, vision and innovation, inspiring leadership, and philanthropy. The 2008 Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame laureates are:

France

• William H.G. France (1909-1992): Founder and President, National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR)

• Thomas F. Frist Jr., M.D.: Co-founder, Hospital Corporation of America (HCA)

• Robert L. Johnson: Founder, Black Entertainment Television; Owner, Charlotte Bobcats NBA franchise; Founder and Chairman, The RLJ Companies

• John E. Pepper Jr.: Retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Procter & Gamble Company; Chairman, The Walt Disney Company

• Al Neuharth: Founder, USA TODAY; Founder and former Chairman, The Freedom Forum; Retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Gannett Co., Inc.

• Meg Whitman: President and Chief Executive Officer, eBay Inc.

"Junior Achievement strongly believes in providing positive role models for our young people. Whether they are a JA volunteer in the classroom teaching students how to start and grow a business, or an honoree of our U.S. Business Hall of Fame, they can inspire kids to succeed," said Sean C. Rush, president and chief executive officer of Junior Achievement. "Our kids need these positive influences now more than ever, so we are thrilled to honor these worthy business leaders not only for their success in the business world, but also for their success in inspiring our young people."

According to a new survey conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of Junior Achievement, nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of teens said they have a role model. When asked what qualities they looked for in a role model, the top three responses were: "truly cares about others," "is not afraid of failure," and "tries to positively impact society through his/her business practices."

The 2008 laureates will be honored at a black-tie gala on April 9 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, Tenn.

About Junior Achievement

JA Worldwide is the world's largest organization dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy. Through a dedicated volunteer network, JA Worldwide provides in-school and after-school programs for students which focus on three key content areas: work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy. Today, 139 individual area operations reach more than four million students in the United States, with an additional 4.3 million students served by operations in 114 other countries worldwide.

For more information at Junior Achievement or the U.S. Business Hall of Fame, visit www.ja.org.