AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A Central Texas electrical engineer who earned his doctorate at the University of Texas has donated $35 million to the school in Austin.
UT officials and the Cockrell School of Engineering on Thursday announced the scholarship funding from the estate of T.W. “Tom” Whaley.
Whaley, who was born in 1935 in Lorena, died last year. School officials say it’s largest gift that UT has received for a scholarship endowment.
Whaley, after serving in the Army, earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Texas A&M University before working for General Dynamics.
Whaley received his Ph.D. in electrical engineering in 1968 from the Cockrell School of Engineering. His gift will fund scholarships for Texans in the fields of engineering and science. Whaley’s gift also includes about 700 mineral rights across 10 states.