Texas Tech Names College of Engineering After Former Regent and AT&T CEO Edward E. Whitacre Jr.
November 12 2008 - 12:01AM
PR Newswire (US)
$25 million gift will help university maintain competitive edge.
LUBBOCK, Texas, Nov. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- With a reported worldwide
shortage of engineers and graduates in related fields, Texas Tech
University and AT&T Inc. are doing their part to ensure a
first-class engineering education for students in the coming
decades. Texas Tech administrators today (Nov. 12) acknowledged
gifts of $25 million from AT&T and friends of the company to
the College of Engineering in honor of Edward E. Whitacre Jr.,
former Texas Tech regent and former chairman of the board and CEO
of AT&T. Texas Tech officials also announced the college will
be named the Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering.
"America's future competitiveness depends on the strength of our
nation's educational system," said Randall Stephenson, AT&T
chairman and chief executive officer. "Ed Whitacre is a long-time
and strong advocate for education at every level. I can't think of
a better way to recognize his leadership and support of education
than by establishing a lasting legacy with the Whitacre College of
Engineering at Texas Tech." Whitacre, a 1964 Texas Tech industrial
engineering graduate, credits much of his success to the quality
education he received at Texas Tech, and it is his dream that
future students have the same opportunity. Kent Hance, Texas Tech
University System Chancellor and long-time friend of Whitacre,
thanked AT&T for its gift and for the opportunity to honor the
outstanding businessman and alumnus. "Texas Tech University has no
better friend or loyal supporter than Ed Whitacre," said Hance.
"AT&T's gift will allow the Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of
Engineering to remain on the cutting edge of engineering education
by positioning it to attract a diverse and quality student body,
and to educate future college students about possible engineering
careers." In 1985 Texas Tech named Whitacre a distinguished
engineer of the College of Engineering. He was appointed to the
Texas Tech University System Board of Regents in 1993, and was
chairman from 1995-1998. In 1996, the Texas Tech Rawls College of
Business honored him with the Outstanding Chief Executive Award.
Whitacre was instrumental in securing some of the largest gifts to
Texas Tech, including contributions from the SBC Foundation to
create endowed scholarships and endowed faculty positions at the
university. At the request of then-Chancellor John T. Montford, he
served as national campaign chairman for Texas Tech's Horizon
Fundraising Campaign from 1996 to 2001. "I've had the unique
opportunity to work for Mr. Whitacre as chancellor of Texas Tech
and as a part of AT&T," Montford said. "His drive and winning
spirit embodies everything associated with this university and its
world-class engineering program." A native of Ennis, Texas,
Whitacre began his career at Southwestern Bell Telephone in Lubbock
in 1963. He progressed through a series of assignments in the
company's operational departments in Texas, Arkansas and Kansas.
From 1982 to 1985, Whitacre headed Southwestern Bell's Kansas
Division, and then moved to corporate headquarters where he served
as group president, vice president-revenues and public affairs, and
vice chairman and chief financial officer. In October 1988,
Whitacre was made president and chief operating officer,
responsible for the company's six primary subsidiaries. In 1990,
Whitacre became chairman and CEO of SBC, which changed its name to
AT&T in 2005 after SBC acquired AT&T Corp. During
Whitacre's 1990-2007 tenure as chairman and chief executive
officer, the company differentiated itself through diversification,
a disciplined growth strategy and strategic mergers and
acquisitions. Whitacre retired in 2007. DATASOURCE: Texas Tech
University CONTACT: Leslie Cranford of Texas Tech University,
+1-806-742-2136,
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