Quick Facts
- Date: March 10, 1948
- Birthplace: Not publicly documented in reliable sources; career based in Memphis, Tennessee
- Memphis connection: Founder and longtime chairman of Memphis-based Southeastern Asset Management (est. 1975); past president, Memphis Society of Financial Analysts (1983)
- Education: B.A. in Finance, University of Florida (1970); M.B.A. in Finance, University of Georgia (1971)
- Related milestone: Longleaf Partners Fund launched April 8, 1987
Main Story
On March 10, 1948, O. Mason Hawkins was born. Decades later, he would become a central figure in Memphis history and the 901 business community by founding Southeastern Asset Management in 1975 and leading it from its Bluff City headquarters. Before launching the firm, Hawkins served as Director of Research at Atlantic National Bank (1972–1973) and at First Tennessee Investment Management in Memphis (1974–1975). He earned finance degrees from the University of Florida and the University of Georgia and later obtained the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation—credentials reflected in public filings and company materials.
In 1987, Southeastern introduced the Longleaf Partners Fund, a concentrated, value-oriented mutual fund that extended the firm’s approach to a broader investing public. From offices in Memphis, Southeastern has maintained a long-term, business-owner mindset that helped distinguish the city for disciplined value investing—an identity very different from the music and Beale Street culture that most people first associate with Memphis.
Legacy
Hawkins’ career underscores how Memphis’ influence reaches beyond culture to capital. Through Southeastern’s Memphis base, local analysts and professionals have built careers in global investing, and the city has sustained a durable presence in national finance conversations. His leadership in the local professional community—including service as past president of the Memphis Society of Financial Analysts—helped strengthen a homegrown talent pipeline. As we mark his birthday, we note how this work broadened what the Bluff City is known for—adding prudent capital stewardship to the story of Memphis history.
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