Screening of Robert Khayat documentary, “The Chancellor,” will be Oct. 29 at the Ford Center
By Overby Center staff
A documentary film on the leadership and accomplishments of Robert Khayat will premiere Oct. 29 at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Mississippi. “The Chancellor – The Robert Khayat Story,” was produced and directed by David Crews who serves on the Overby Center Board of Directors.
The film is a production of Deep Focus Films. The film will be followed by country music legend Marty Stuart’s performance of “The Moss Point Kid,” a song he wrote about Khayat.
Photo by Robert Jordan via The Campaign Moves South - round table moderated by Charles L. Overby.
Robert Khayat, left, and Charles Overby, right.
Robert Khayat is the former chancellor of the University of Mississippi.
Khayat was the 15th chancellor of the University of Mississippi, serving from 1995 until 2009. As chancellor, Khayat established the Sally McConnell Barksdale Honors College and oversaw rapid growth, major fundraising, and increased national standing of the university that included the initiation of a Phi Beta Kappa chapter.
Before he was chancellor, Khayat was professor and assistant dean at the Ole Miss School of Law. After finishing his undergraduate degree, Khayat was drafted by the NFL Cleveland Browns and played professional football for three seasons with the Washington Redskins. Khayat earned both his undergraduate degree and J.D. from the University of Mississippi. He earned an LL.M. from Yale Law School. He lives in Oxford, Miss.
Photo via MississippiToday
David Crews is a clerk and Overby Center board member.
David Crews served for 33 years with the United States Justice Department and the U.S. courts. While working for Gov. William Winter, he helped secure legislation that brought a statewide system of kindergartens, reading specialists, and compulsory school attendance to Mississippi.
Crews has produced several documentary films including “The Toughest Job,” which won a regional Emmy for best historical documentary. His film “Unrivaled” aired nationwide on PBS stations. He co-produced a film on Pulitzer Prize-winning author Eudora Welty. His documentary “The Whiskey Speech: Soggy Sweat and the Power of Storytelling,” was screened earlier this year to an overflow audience at the Overby Center.
Crews authored “The Mississippi Book of Quotations,” now in its third printing. Among other philanthropic initiatives, Crews helped raise $2 million to construct the Mississippi Children’s Cancer Clinic at the University Medical Center in Jackson. He serves as a judge for the Willie Morris Literary Awards. He graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn. He lives on a farm outside Oxford, Miss.
The program will begin at 6:00 p.m. in the Gertrude Castellow Ford Center for the Performing Arts, 351 University Ave on the Ole Miss campus. There is no charge, but tickets are required and can be obtained at the Ford Center box office. There is free parking available.