[2] Hightower was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and moved with his family to New York City, New York, when he was one year old.
From 1957 to 1961, he was in an executive training program at First National City Bank.
On May 1, 1970, he assumed the position of director of the Museum of Modern Art.
[4] Hightower's tenure at the museum was marked by the unionizing of its work force into the Professional and Administrative Staff Association (PASTA) which also went on strike.
[6] From 1977 to 1993, he was president of the South Street Seaport Museum[7] From 1993 to 2006, he was president and Director of the Mariners' Museum, a period which included establishing the USS Monitor Center and Conservation Laboratory.