An Ohio State alumnus pledged $17 million to the College of Engineering on Friday.

After receiving the 2008 Ohio State Alumni Medalist award, given to alumni who have gained national or international distinction in their field, William G. Lowrie committed $17 million to OSU’s engineering department.

The sum is the largest made by an individual donor to engineering at OSU.

Lowrie announced that the funding will be used to support chemical and biomolecular engineering.

Ohio State alumnus William G. Lowrie pledged $17 million to the College of Engineering, a record sum for the department.Ohio State alumnus William G. Lowrie pledged $17 million to the College of Engineering, a record sum for the department.
The gift will be used to endow construction and support for a new laboratory facility on campus, according to an Ohio State news release. The money will also fund a professorship for an untenured faculty member in chemical and biomolecular engineering. Lowrie said he wants the remaining funds to be used for research and education initiatives.

“At this stage of my life, I find myself in a position where I can help and give back in a meaningful way,” Lowrie said in an Ohio State news release. “I wanted to move on it now, regardless of what is going on in the economy, so that I could see it happen and partially repay the university and the Department of Chemical Engineering for the huge impact they have had on my life and the lives of so many others.”

As president of Amoco, or the American Oil Company, Lowrie made a name for himself in the business world and ranks among Forbes’ most successful businessmen in history. Amoco merged with British Petroleum, where Lowrie served as deputy CEO in 1998. Lowrie has since retired and now serves on the board of directors for Williams Companies Inc., an Oklahoma-based pipeline company.

Lowrie also serves on the board of the Ohio State University Foundation.

“Bill Lowrie’s support will create tremendous opportunities for generations of students,” said Gregory N. Washington, interim dean of engineering.

Ohio State’s engineering program is currently ranked in the top 20 for public universities nationally. The department offers 18 specializations for engineering majors.

In order to keep up with the times, Ohio State has more than 40 top-of-the-line research centers and laboratories. Lowrie’s generous contribution will help to serve students in years to come by providing the means to give students the tools to succeed, Washington said.

“We are so fortunate for the generosity of the Lowrie’s, especially when times are tough,” said Shelly Hoffman, assistant vice president of Media Relations for OSU.

The OSU board of trustees agreed to rename the department the William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.

Gina Ferrentino can be reached at [email protected].