Willis Hackney founded Hackney Tire Company in 1926, a business which later flourished in Wilson as a franchise operation of the B.F. Goodrich Company of Akron, Ohio, a company which featured Hackney on the cover of its official magazine, the BFG Tire Dealer, in March of 1964. From the profits of that business came a major lifelong contribution to both AC athletic program and the college as a whole. He had two great loves, the college and the Wilson Tobs baseball team, which he owned. Included in his donations to AC are the music building, named in honor of his wife, Roma, and the Modern AC library. In athletics his contribution included the funds which helped M.J. Bird restart football at the school after World War II. With his financial contributions also came active support of the AC programs. He was a fixture at AC athletic events during the years prior to his death in 1974.