was born in Versailles, Kentucky, and raised in Mt. Sterling. He began his career with Delta Airlines in 1955 at Blue Grass Field, Lexington, Kentucky. As a transportation agent, Mr. Hawkins did everything including ticketing passengers, handling baggage and de-icing planes (using a hand mop).
Promoted to marketing representative, he transferred to Birmingham and then Louisville, and moved to Atlanta in 1959 to serve as assistant to the manager of military and government transportation. He took over leadership of that department in 1962. On May 1, 1991, after a series of promotions, Mr. Hawkins was elected president of Delta Airlines, where he continued to build the successful company.