The Board of Overseers has its share of lawyers, politicians, entrepreneurs and even writers. But candidate Franklin W. Hobbs IV '69 could add another perspective, that of a medal-winning Olympic athlete.

Hobbs, who rowed crew and played squash while an undergraduate, represented the United States in eight-man crew in the 1968 and 1972 Summer Olympics. The 1972 team brought home the silver medal.

"It was just extraordinary," Hobbs says. "It's an unique experience to represent your country."

When he got home from the Olympics, Hobbs settled into a successful career in the business world. In March he stepped down as chair of the Wall Street investment firm Warburg Dillon Read, after spending his entire career at the firm, working his way up the executive ladder. Most of his career was spent in England.

Hobbs says he believes his experience with the investment firm would serve him well if elected to the Board.

"I think I understand big organizations," Hobbs says. "I've spent lots of time working with multifaceted companies." He also says he has gained a global perspective, working for so long oversees focusing on global finance.

Hobbs says, if elected, he would like to help Harvard lead the discussion on improving K-12 education. He sees this as a critical need for the nation's future and says Harvard is well-positioned to address the issue.

"I'd like to see Harvard as an intellectual leader on how we do [K-12 education] better," Hobbs says.