Central’s Harry Smith Interviews Harold Hamm on Campus
May 28, 2015
Harry Smith ’73 held a discussion with Harold Hamm, CEO of Continental Resources, that included questions from students.
Central College graduate Harry Smith ’73 held an interview with Harold Hamm, CEO of Continental Resources, Feb. 26, National Entrepreneurship Day. Smith staged the hour-long interview with Hamm as students submitted questions.
Smith is an Emmy award-winning journalist whose resume´ includes interviews with Richard Nixon and Margaret Thatcher. Smith, now an NBC News correspondent, previously hosted “The Early Show on CBS,” A&E’s “Biography” and The History Channel’s “Modern Marvels.”
Hamm was invited to tell his rags-to-riches story as one of 13 children born to Oklahoma cotton sharecroppers. He founded Continental Resources when he was only 21 and it is now one of the world’s most successful energy companies.
Taking advantage of the appearance, many classes planned activities to build understanding and discuss political, social, scientific, economic, environmental and ethical issues related to entrepreneurship and oil production.
“That is the biggest win in hosting this type of event,” said Wade Steenhoek, director of Central’s Martin Heerema entrepreneurship program. The program allows students from all academic fields to develop an entrepreneurial mindset. “It spurs a deeper level of critical thought in how to process, deliberate and understand complex issues and their layered impacts.”
This event was planned with the help of Jacob Tune ’15, a business management major from Mesa, Ariz. “It’s great to hear about where he started — and what he’s had to do and sacrifice to get where he is,” Tune said.