Robert Khayat

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title: "Robert Khayat" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1938-births", "living-people", "american-football-placekickers", "american-people-of-lebanese-descent", "chancellors-of-the-university-of-mississippi", "eastern-conference-pro-bowl-players", "ole-miss-rebels-athletic-directors", "ole-miss-rebels-football-players", "players-of-american-football-from-moss-point,-mississippi", "university-of-mississippi-alumni", "university-of-mississippi-school-of-law-alumni", "washington-redskins-players", "yale-university-alumni", "writers-from-mississippi", "sportspeople-of-lebanese-descent", "members-of-phi-kappa-phi", "phi-delta-theta-members", "moss-point-high-school-alumni"] description: "American football player (born 1938)" topic_path: "law" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Khayat" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American football player (born 1938) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox officeholder"]

Field	Value
name	Robert Khayat
image	Bob Khayat 1961.jpg
order	15th
title	chancellor of the
University of Mississippi
term_start	July 1, 1995
term_end	June 15, 2009
predecessor	R. Gerald Turner
successor	Daniel Jones
birth_date
birth_place	Moss Point, Mississippi, U.S.
education	University of Mississippi
embed	yes
number	60
height_ft	6
height_in	2
weight_lbs	230
position	Placekicker
college	Mississippi
draftyear	1960
draftround	6
draftpick	69
(by the Cleveland Browns)
afldraftyear	1960
teams	* Washington Redskins (, –)
pastadmin	* Mississippi (1994)
(Interim athletic director)
highlights	* Pro Bowl (1960)
pfr	K/KhayBo20
::

| name = Robert Khayat | image = Bob Khayat 1961.jpg | order = 15th | title = chancellor of the University of Mississippi | term_start = July 1, 1995 | term_end = June 15, 2009 | predecessor = R. Gerald Turner | successor = Daniel Jones | birth_date = | birth_place = Moss Point, Mississippi, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | spouse = | children = | education = University of Mississippi | module = | embed = yes | number = 60 | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 2 | weight_lbs = 230 | birth_date = | birth_place = | position = Placekicker | high_school = | college = Mississippi | draftyear = 1960 | draftround = 6 | draftpick = 69 (by the Cleveland Browns) | afldraftyear = 1960 | teams = * Washington Redskins (, –) | pastadmin = * Mississippi (1994) (Interim athletic director) | highlights = * Pro Bowl (1960) | pfr = K/KhayBo20

Robert Conrad Khayat (born April 18, 1938) is an American former academic administrator and football player who was the 15th chancellor of the University of Mississippi. He played football professionally as a placekicker, guard, and center for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League (NFL).

Khayat played college football for the Ole Miss Rebels and was selected in the sixth round of the 1960 NFL draft. He played for the Washington for three seasons, earning a Pro Bowl selection in 1960. After his football career, Khayat became a lawyer. He was appointed chancellor of the University of Mississippi in 1995.

Early years

Khayat was born in Moss Point, Mississippi, to Lebanese parents. His family attended a Methodist church where they sat in the back due to racial discrimination. He attended Moss Point High School and the University of Mississippi. He received both Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor degrees from the University of Mississippi. He also played football for the Ole Miss Rebels football team from 1957 to 1959. He also received an LL.M. degree from Yale University.

Professional football career

Khayat was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the 1960 NFL draft. He was then traded to the Washington Redskins along with lineman Fran O'Brien in April 1960 for veteran kicker Sam Baker.

Khayat played for the Redskins during the 1960, 1962, and 1963 seasons. Following the 1960 season, he was named to the Pro Bowl squad. He appeared in a total of 40 NFL games and kicked 38 field goals and 90 extra points.

His brother Eddie Khayat also played and coached in the NFL.

Later years

Khayat later became a lawyer and taught law at the University of Mississippi School of Law.

He was appointed chancellor in 1995. In one of his first acts as chancellor, Khayat arranged for a $5.4 million gift from Jim and Sally Barksdale to establish an honors college at the university. In 1996, with enrollment declining, Khayat retained the public relations firm, Burson-Marsteller, to conduct a survey of public perception — including university symbols. When The New York Times reported on the review, which included the Confederate Flag and other Old South symbols, a media frenzy ensued.

On January 6, 2009, Khayat announced his retirement effective June 30, 2009. He was succeeded by Daniel Jones on June 15, 2009.

Khayat's memoir, The Education of a Lifetime, was published on September 10, 2013.

References

References

1. "Robert Khayat's book '60' recounts life-altering year {{!}} Mississippi Today".
2. "Bob Khayat". Pro Football Archives.
3. "1960 NFL Draft".
4. (April 26, 1960). "Browns trade Rebs' Khayat for Baker". The Birmingham News.
5. "1960 NFL Pro Bowlers".
6. "Bob Khayat Stats". Sports Reference LLC.
7. (August 20, 1971). "Bob Khayat Returns To Ole Miss Team". The Daily Herald.
8. [http://news.olemiss.edu/index.php/Ole-Miss-News/News-Releases/khayat_retirement.html Chancellor Announces Retirement Plans]

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