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Southern Utah University has announced the largest single gift the institution has received its 115-year history, a $4 million pledge in honor of one of the Cedar City's school's most accomplished alumni.
The family of the late Walter Maxwell Gibson made the gift to support science education, funding an endowment for student and faculty research initiatives and scholarships.
"This is truly a game-changing gift for one of our largest and most dynamic colleges," said a news release quoting SUU President Michael Benson. "The Gibsons' generosity will benefit the educational pursuits for countless students for generations. This is truly amazing."
In recognition of this historic donation, SUU will name the College of Science and Engineering in honor of Gibson, who graduated in 1952 with an associate degree in chemistry from SUU when it was known as the Branch Agricultural College. Gibson had pledged $3 million five years ago for the new science building, but his 2009 death from cancer thwarted the gift from materializing before the building was finished. Other donors stepped in to help fill the shortfall.
"But Walter's initial pledge was absolutely vital to getting the ball rolling with the state and eventually securing the Legislature's support for the bricks and mortar," Benson said.
While Gibson furthered his studies at the University of Utah and the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned his doctorate in nuclear chemistry, he often spoke of his time at the BAC as a life-changing opportunity, according to his son David Gibson.
"He felt it helped him develop a love of science and discovery that continued the rest of his life and prepared him for a meaningful and successful career in academia and business," David said. "He was very excited to give back to SUU in a meaningful way."
Added Gibson's widow Alice, "We are so pleased to support Walter's beloved college and hope this gift will help students best prepare for successful careers in science and engineering."
The gift will broaden the educational experiences and student opportunities for years to come, officials said.
"There are clearly some new opportunities that this kind of gift can provide that have previously been unattainable," SUU science dean Robert Eves said. Moving forward, he hopes to "honor the Gibson family's commitment to improving education and providing real life experiences where students can apply their theoretical knowledge to deepen the learning experience."
After a career in research at Bell Laboratories, Gibson chaired the physics department, then served as dean of graduate studies and later vice president for research for University at Albany, State University of New York. In 1990, he co-founded X-Ray Optical Systems, later serving as its chief technology officer.