Background
Lay, Kenneth Lee was born on April 15, 1942 in Tyrone, Missouri, United States. Son of Omer and Ruth E. (Reese) Lay.
Lay, Kenneth Lee was born on April 15, 1942 in Tyrone, Missouri, United States. Son of Omer and Ruth E. (Reese) Lay.
Bachelor, University Missouri, 1964. Master of Arts, University Missouri, 1965. Doctor of Philosophy, University Houston, 1970.
Economist, corporation planning department Exxon Corporation, Houston, 1965-1968. Assistant professor & lecturer in economics George Washington University, Washington, 1969-1973. Technical assistant to commissioner & vice chairman Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (formerly Federal Power Commission), 1971-1972.
Deputy under secretary for energy United States Department Interior, 1972-1974. Vice president Florida Gas Company (now Continental Resources Company), Winter Park, Florida, 1974-1976, president, 1976-1979. Executive vice president The Continental Group, 1979-1981.
President, chief operating officer Transco Energy Company, Houston, 1981-1984. Chairman, Chief Executive Officer Houston Natural Gas Corporation, 1984-1985. President, chief operating officer Enron Corporation (formerly HNG/InterNorth), 1985—1986, Chief Executive Officer, 1986—2001, 2001—2002, chairman, 1986—2002.
President Lay Interests LLC, 2002—2004. Board directors Eli Lilly & Company, Trust Company West, Compaq Computer Corporation. Past chairman Greater Houston Partnership.
Indicted on charges of accounting fraud, 2004. Convicted on fraud and conspiracy charges, 2006.
Former chairman board regents University Houston. Board trustees The H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics & the Environment, The Business Council, American Enterprise Institute. Houston Host Committee for 1992 Republican National Convention.
Co-chairman 1990 Houston Economic Summit Host. Committee; trustee Howard University. Active Resources for the Future.
Member National Petroleum Council, River Oaks Country Club, Phi Beta Kappa.
Married Linda Ann Phillips, July 10, 1982. Children: Robyn Anne, Mark Kenneth, Todd David, Elizabeth Ayers, Robert Ray.