Calvin Howard Wilkins Jr. (February 19, 1938 – December 24, 2016) was an American businessman and political fundraiser who served as
United States Ambassador to the Netherlands.
In 1966 Wilkins bought the
Pizza Hut franchise in
Kentucky, and in less than two years he added 16 restaurants. He then sold his restaurants to the parent corporation, which he joined as Vice President for International Operations. The company's first restaurants outside the
United States were built during his tenure, and in 1970 he left the company to become President of Pizza Corporation of America, and later Maverick Development Corporation. He operated 270 Pizza Hut restaurants in the United States and overseas, and later moved on to franchises of other name brand restaurants.[6][7][8][9]
He was also major donor to and fundraiser for the 1988 presidential campaign of
George H. W. Bush. From 1989 to 1992 he served as Bush's Ambassador to the Netherlands.[12][13]
Wilkins also continued his business career, including partnerships and board of directors memberships for
Panera Bread, Amarillo Mesquite Grill Inc.,
Siemens Water Technologies Corp. and other companies.[21][22]
Ambassador Wilkins and his family are also philanthropists, and their activities include a charitable organization, the C. Howard Wilkins Foundation and establishing women's softball and basketball scholarships at
Wichita State University.[23][24][25] Wilkins died on December 24, 2016, at the age of 78.[26]