Khayat Will Pick Guitar At Banquet Tonight

Dr. Robert Khayat (left) will join with one or more of these alleged musicians when he appears at the Chamber Banquet. At this “gig” (musicians use the term to refer to a job) the sign on the table next to the tip cup reads, “Out of work chancellor.”

The Water Valley Area Chamber of Commerce will hold their annual banquet tonight beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the multipurpose building at Water Valley High School.

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased from any Chamber Director, at MidTown Auto Parts and the Chamber of Commerce.

Dr. Robert Khayat, former Chancellor of the University of Mississippi, will be the entertainment for the evening.

Chamber officials said that Khayat will be playing country and gospel music on his guitar which he learned to play while in the NFL.

According to the story, Khayat, who played for the Washington Redskins, traded game tickets for guitar lessons.

Khayat  was born April 18, 1938, in Moss Point, Mississippi. He was the 15th Chancellor of Ole Miss, appointed in 1995.

Khayat, a former student of the university, is the only Chancellor to be a member of the Student Hall of Fame at Ole Miss.

He has degrees from both the University of Mississippi and Yale University. Khayat played football in the National Football League as a kicker for the Washington Redskins.

On January 6, 2009, Khayat announced his retirement effective June 30, 2009. He was replaced by Dr. Daniel “Dan” Jones on June 15, 2009.