June 13, 2009 | Read Time: 2 minutes
William P. Clements Jr., a former Texas governor, has pledged $100-million to Southwestern Medical Foundation, in Dallas. The money will benefit the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.
The donation is the second $100-million to be pledged to a nonprofit organization in the last four weeks.
In May, J. Ronald Terwilliger, chairman of Trammell Crow Residential, a real-estate company in Dallas, pledged $100-million to Habitat For Humanity, in Americus, Ga.
Unlike Mr. Terwilliger’s commitment however, which Habitat will receive upon his death, Mr. Clements, who is 92, plans to pay off his pledge over the next four years.
“My single goal is to help encourage and advance scientific discovery and innovation, prepare the next generation of physicians for Texas and the nation, and ensure the delivery of world-class medial care, which I believe uniquely happens at this academic medical center,” said Mr. Clements in a news release.
He also said he hopes the medical center will use his pledge to encourage additional donations from others.
This is not Mr. Clements’ first donation to the medical center. In 2006 he and his wife, Rita, gave the center $10-millionfor a building to house clinical and medical research programs, and in 1998 they donated approximately $1.3-million to support new faculty members. Rita Crocker Clements served on the University of Texas System’s Board of Regents from 1996 to 2007.
Mr. Clements made his fortune in oil. In 1947 he founded Sedco, an international oil and gas drilling contractor that merged in 1984 with Schlumberger Limited. Mr. Clements was chairman of the company until 1985.
Before serving his first of two terms as governor of Texas — one from 1979 to 1983, and another from 1987 to 1991— Mr. Clements played a role in Washington. In 1970 he was appointed to the Department of Defense Blue Ribbon Defense Panel, and from 1973 to 1977, he was deputy director of defense. After his first term ended in 1983, Mr. Clements served on President Regan’s Commission on Central America and on the President’s Commission on Strategic Forces.
(See The Chronicle’s searchable database of information about big gifts.)
