FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 27, 2001 CONTACT: Lisa Lacher, (515) 271-3119 HEALTH-CARE COMPANY CEO TO SPEAK AT DRAKE APRIL 5 William H. Longfield, chairman and chief executive officer of C. R. Bard Inc., a business that develops, manufactures and supplies health-care products that focus on vascular, urology and oncology disease states, will be the keynote speaker at Drake University's annual Business Days Awards Banquet on Thursday, April 5. Longfield, who received his bachelor's degree in business administration from Drake in 1960, will discuss the many challenges he's faced during his 40-year career. He also holds a graduate degree in management from Northwestern University. Members of the business community as well as Drake faculty, students, alumni and friends are invited to attend the banquet, which will start at 5 p.m. in Parents Hall at Olmsted Center, 29th Street and University Avenue. Longfield joined C. R. Bard in Murray Hill, N.J., in 1989 as executive vice president and chief operating officer. He became president in 1991 and CEO in 1994. He recently was elected chairman of the Advanced Medical Technology Association's Board of Directors. AdvaMed is the world's largest trade association for innovators and manufacturers of medical devices, diagnostic products and medical information systems. In addition, Longfield sits on numerous company boards in the long-term care, consumer health products and mental health arenas, including Manor Care Inc., West Pharmaceutical Services Inc. and Horizon Health Corp. He also is a trustee for the Health Care Institute of New Jersey, the Atlantic Health System and Centenary College in New Jersey. Prior to joining C. R. Bard, Longfield was president and CEO of the Cambridge Group of Dallas, a company he founded to provide long-term health care services. He began his career in 1961 with American Hospital Supply Inc., where he held numerous positions during his 23-year career there, including president of its Convertors Division. Drake's Business Days is made possible by Arthur Andersen LLP. Tickets for the banquet are $13.95 per person. For reservations, call (515) 271-3749 no later than 4:30 p.m. on Monday, April 2.