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| Walter Gibson, '51 |
Southern Utah University announced on January 20, 2012, the largest single gift in its 115-year
history: $4 million from Walter M. and Alice Gibson. The funds are designated
for the College of Science and Engineering (COSE) and will help fund 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,” stated President Michael Benson. “We are extremely grateful to
the Gibson family for their commitment to and support of the advancement of
science at SUU. Their generosity will benefit the educational pursuits for
countless students for generations. This is truly amazing.”
In recognition of this historic donation, SUU will be naming the College of
Science and Engineering in honor of the late Walter Maxwell Gibson, who
graduated from the Branch Agricultural College (now SUU) in 1951 with an
associate’s degree in chemistry.
While the late Walter Gibson furthered his studies at the finest institutions,
he oft spoke of his time at the BAC as a life-changing opportunity, according to
his son, David Gibson.
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1950 BAC Freshmen Class Officers.
Left to right: Sheldon Callister (vice-president),
Carolyn Young (secretary) and Walter Gibson (president). |
“My father loved his time at the College,” said David. “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. He
was very excited to give back to SUU in a meaningful way.”
According to the dean of COSE, Robert Eves ('84), similar results will play out year
after year among SUU’s science students thanks to the Gibson gift. “This
endowment will make it possible for SUU to deepen the experience and expand the
opportunities for thousands of College of Science and Engineering students yet
to come.”
Eves adds, “There are clearly some new opportunities that this kind of gift can
provide that have previously been unattainable.” 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.”
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Walter Gibson as a
student at the BAC |
And that is exactly what Walter would have
wanted, according to Gibson’s wife, 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 — just as the BAC did for Walter
so many years ago.”
After graduating from the BAC, Walter Gibson
continued his studies at the University of Utah, earning a bachelor’s degree and
then completing his doctorate in nuclear chemistry at the University of
California-Berkeley in 1956, under the tutelage of Nobel Laureate Glen Seaborg.
After a career in research at Bell Laboratories, he served as Physics Department
Chair, Dean of Graduate Studies, and VP of Research for University at Albany,
State University of NY. In 1990, Walter co-founded X-Ray Optical Systems (XOS),
later serving as its chief technology officer until his death in 2009.
The Walter Maxwell Gibson College of Science and Engineering will have its
official unveiling in May, just before SUU’s 113th annual Commencement.
