The Philanthropy 50 2009 Gift Profile: William G. and Ernestine R. Lowrie

William G. and Ernestine R. Lowrie: $17-million

Beneficiary: Ohio State University

Donors’ background: Mr. Lowrie is a retired deputy chief executive of BP Amoco, an international energy company with headquarters in London.

Mr. Lowrie, 66, and his wife, Ernestine, 69, pledged $17-million to Ohio State University, in Columbus, for its Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. The Lowries have paid $5-million of the gift and hope to pay the rest by 2014. The university has named the department for the couple.

Of the total committed, $11-million will go toward the construction of a new laboratory building; $5-million will endow a new professorship, and education and research programs; and $1-million will endow a professorship for an untenured faculty member in chemical and biomolecular engineering, that has been named for the late H.C. (Slip) Slider, who was a professor at the university and a mentor to Mr. Lowrie.

“He had a tremendous impact on me and got me directed and interested. If he hadn’t been there and done that, it’s questionable whether I’d be in a position to give this kind of a gift,” said Mr. Lowrie, who graduated from the university in 1966.

Mr. Lowrie serves on the university’s Board of Trustees and is leading the committee charged with raising additional money for the new building. Mr. and Mrs. Lowrie decided to attach their name to the gift rather than give anonymously because, said Mr. Lowrie, “I don’t think giving a gift like this anonymously helps with fund raising.”

Aside from the Slider professorship, the couple placed only one restriction on the gift: that the university not change the name of the new building, which will replace the current Koffolt Laboratories facility. That building was named for the late Joseph H. Koffolt, another chemical and biomolecular department professor who influenced Mr. Lowrie. In no uncertain terms, said the donor, “Joe’s name stays on the building.”

—Maria Di Mento

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