Hawks is the founder and chairman of Tenaska, one of the largest private energy companies in the country, specializing in power plants, natural gas, and private equity. Nebraska's new football training facility is named after him, and he and his son donated generously to the Huskers' new basketball facility. Hawks spent nearly $200,000 of his own money to get on the University of Nebraska's Board of Regents. He is also a major donor to Republican and "nonpartisan" Nebraska politicians.