R. Hugh Elliott is the perfect example of a goodwill ambassador for Oakland University. A member of The President's Club, Elliott is the epitome of friendship to OU.

A longtime supporter of Oakland University, Elliott has proven himself as a leader in business - giving both time and treasure. A finalist for Ernst and Young's Manufacturing Entrepreneur of the Year in 1999, Elliott's most recent endeavor is establishing the President's Invitational, a major fundraiser for OU athletics.

The Rochester resident has played a major role in the growth of Oakland University. Due to the generous gifts to the university and to the athletic department, Elliott is the namesake of the Hugh and Nancy Elliott Room in the Athletics Center `O'rena and of the Elliott Hall of Business and Information Technology. Elliott, with his wife Nancy, recently endowed a scholarship for an OU student-athlete who is a business major, recognizing the importance of a business education fortified by competition. The first scholarship was awarded in 2001.

Sir Hugh, a Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania native, was bestowed the honor of "des Chevaliers du Testevin" by the French Government in 1995. Elliott, a two-sport athlete in track and football at Virginia Tech University, established the automotive supplier R. Elliott Enterprises in 1974 in Birmingham. Since that time, the firm has grown to include several companies, which are now organized as the Elliott Group International.

A courtside season ticket holder in the `O'rena and former board member of the Rainbow Connection, Elliott has worked on charitable committees for Marist Academy, Notre Dame Prep and Rainbow Connection. At Notre Dame and Marist, he also dedicated many hours coaching both football and baseball. He was also involved for six years in the Rochester Redskin Youth football organization where he was a volunteer coach.

His interest in athletics spans the spectrum and one of his greatest loves is golf. Elliott is a regular in pro-am tournaments and is affiliated with Shepherd's Hollow and Pine Trace and is member of Great Oaks, Wyndgate, MacArthur (Florida) and Pinehurst (North Carolina).

Elliott and his wife Nancy have one son, Chad.