Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, BB&T Corp.

Kelly S. King, chairman and chief executive officer of BB&T Corp., has been confirmed as one of the speakers who will give talks at WVU as part of the College of Business and Economics 60th anniversary celebration. King will speak on Nov. 7.

Before his election to CEO in 2009, King served as BB&T's chief operating officer from 2004 to 2008. In January 2009, he was named a director of The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. He joined BB&T's Management Development Program in 1972 and has served in many roles, including manager of its central and metropolitan regions, Raleigh city executive, Charlotte business services manager, Statesville consumer lending manager, and banking manager for BB&T's branch network.

King earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in business administration from East Carolina University. He is a graduate of the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University.

Several other speakers will take part in the anniversary lecture series, but have yet to be confirmed.

The West Virginia Higher Education Board created what was then called the WVU College of Commerce on Nov. 10, 1951. It was renamed the College of Business and Economics in 1971.

On Friday, Nov. 4, a reception will be held from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. at the Waterfront Place Hotel in Morgantown. Faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends are invited to celebrate - the Mountaineer and WVU Cheerleaders are scheduled to attend.

A group of B&E alumni will be inducted into a new College of Business and Economics Roll of Distinguished Alumni during the celebration, and a reception for the WVU community is planned for Thursday, Nov. 3. The football game hospitality tent, Saturday, Nov. 5, two hours before kickoff, will sport a 60th anniversary theme. Additionally, students will participate in a series of events with College administrators and faculty, and the special lecture series is in the works.