A study investigated selected personal characteristics of 124 highly visible presidents belonging to four institutional associations that include among their members the nation's major universities and four-year colleges (National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, American Association of State Colleges and Universities, Association of American Colleges, and Association of American Universities). Visibility was determined by such characteristics as election to high associational office, major addresses at national meetings, appointments to national commissions, and publications dealing with higher education policy issues. Background characteristics included academic discipline, institutional prestige, scholarly productivity, and career pattern. Correlation of background characteristics and visibility suggests that while the characteristics are not highly related to visibility, they appear to be important in the screening process of search committees. The findings suggests the emergence of a "career president" who begins to concentrate on administration early in his/her career. In addition, appreciable variation in association membership exists with regard to presidential requirements. The importance of examining the interplay of all presidential background characteristics with association membership and professional prominence is emphasized. (MSE)