It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Jim Van Horne on Monday, September 1, at the age of 90. Jim was the A.P. Giannini Professor of Banking and Finance, Emeritus at Stanford GSB. He served as President of the American Finance Association in 1984 and was also a Fellow of the Association.
Professor Van Horne’s areas of research included theory and behavior of interest rates, capital budgeting decisions, corporate finance, valuation, the term structure of interest rates, effect of inflation, and finance innovation. He authored numerous research articles as well as five books which have been widely used as textbooks in the United States and abroad. His work has helped shape the field of finance.
Jim profoundly influenced generations of students through his legendary Corporate Finance course, his rigorous teaching style, and his passion for mentoring. He received the MBA Distinguished Teaching Award twice and the Robert T. Davis Award for extraordinary faculty service.
Beyond the classroom, Dr. Van Horne served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the United States Treasury, held key leadership roles at Stanford, and served as a former president of the Western Finance Association. In 2011, the James C. Van Horne Professorship was established in his honor—a lasting tribute to his enduring impact on Stanford and the profession. He will be greatly missed.