Presentation of the
Doctor of Commercial Science, Honoris
Causa
to
James Walter Christmas
James Walter Christmas received his B.S. in Accounting from the
College of Business Administration in 1970. Describing himself as
“a driven, self-motivated person who often sought out challenges
and was willing to risk failing in order to progress,” he secured
an internship in the accounting firm of Arthur Andersen &
Company before he had even completed his degree and this launched
what would become an outstanding business career. The internship
led to a paid position, and he became Senior Audit Manager before
leaving in 1978 to become Vice President and Corporate Controller
at National Utilities and Industries, a diversified utilities
company with a variety of ancillary energy businesses. He
subsequently served in additional senior management positions at
the firm, including Vice President of Corporate Planning and
Development. In 1988 he coordinated the spinoff of National
Utilities and Industries’ non-regulated businesses and became
President and CEO of KCS Group, a newly created company which later
became KCS Energy. Under his leadership, KCS grew from a tiny
startup to a nearly $2 billion enterprise. In 2006 KCS Energy
merged with Petrohawk Energy Corporation, an independent energy
company engaged in the acquisition, production, exploration and
development of oil and gas and one of the premier oil and gas
companies involved in the new shale gas technology, adding
significantly to the nation’s gas supplies. Christmas currently
serves as Vice Chairman of the Board of Petrohawk, as well as
Director and Co-Owner of PIM Corporation, a specialty contractor
focused on pipeline and other infrastructure rehabilitation. Always
eager to mentor current students, he recently underwrote and served
as the driving force behind the Alumni Relations Business Plan
Competition Expo, designed to encourage entrepreneurship among St.
John’s students and alumni. He is a member of The Loughlin Society,
and in 1995 was presented with the Alumni Outstanding Achievement
Award. It is with great pride and profound pleasure that, in
recognition of his exemplary business career, loyalty to alma
mater and on the 40th anniversary of his graduation, St.
John’s University tonight confers the Doctor of Commercial Science
degree, honoris causa, upon James Walter Christmas.
May 21, 2010