About Lorry I. Lokey

Mr. Lorry I. Lokey is the founder and CEO/chairman emeritus of Business Wire, the international media relations wire service. He is a native of Portland, Oregon, and attended public schools in that city. A graduate of Stanford University with a B.A. degree in journalism, Lokey acquired his knowledge of wire services as a night wire editor for United Press (now UPI) in Portland. Lokey held a number of positions as a journalist before founding his own company in 1961. He now lives in San Francisco, California.

Mr. Lokey is no stranger to public service and educational commitment. He has served on several business and educational boards including: The Stanford Daily; Temple Beth El, San Mateo; and the Peninsula Jewish Community Center, Belmont. Among his current commitments he is a trustee for the Leo Baeck School, Haifa, Israel.

When Business Wire opened in October 1961, it started out as a local media concern that grew rapidly. By 2007, Business Wire was transmitting news releases to news media, financial analysts and databanks in the U.S. and around the world. Although no longer the owner of Business Wire, Lokey still averages some 35 work hours a week and continues to work from offices of the business he founded, yet manages to travel overseas annually. He does plan to take early retirement before age 90.

Mr. Lokey has been widely recognized for his achievements in the field of journalism, as well for his civic and philanthropic endeavors. He has a distinguished record of community service focusing on educational institutions. He has demonstrated vision by contributing to the development of truly innovative research in science with major gifts to a wide range of programs. In keeping with his belief that science education and excellence are crucial, he supports the Leo Baeck high school with the aim of motivating its students toward academic study and research.

Mr. Lokey’s recent monumental gift to the Technion has made possible the establishment of the Lorry I. Lokey Interdisciplinary Center for Life Sciences and Engineering. This center, conceived by Technion Nobel Prize laureate Prof. Aaron Ciechanover, will encourage cutting edge research in Life Sciences at the Technion.