Oil Baron Pledges $150-Million to Earth-Sciences Programs at U. of Texas

A retired oil executive from Dallas has pledged $150-million to the University of Texas at Austin to endow studies in earth sciences. When the gift is made, it will be one of the largest ever to a public university.

John A. Jackson, 88, who founded the Katie Petroleum Company, said he would bequeath to the university an estate that is estimated to be worth that amount. His estate consists mainly of stocks and bonds and some cash, a spokesman for the university said.

The bequest will support research in the fields of earth sciences, environmental studies, geology, geophysics, and natural resources — much of which is likely to take place at the John A. and Katherine G. Jackson School of Geosciences, the spokesman said.

Mr. Jackson, who earned a bachelor’s degree in petroleum geology from the university in 1940, said he was motivated to make the gift because “the resources of the earth have been important to me and to what Katie and I have been able to achieve.” He added: “The continued study and understanding of geology and the resources and environment of the earth will be important to the university and the citizens of Texas in the future.”

Mr. Jackson last year pledged to endow the geosciences school with $25-million.

In 2000, he and his late wife, Katie, pledged $15-million to the university to help expand a geology building.

According to The Chronicle of Higher Education, only one other public college or university has received a bigger commitment: Last year Bill and Claudia Coleman, who made their money in technology businesses, pledged $250-million to the University of Colorado system.