Endowments Benefit Animal and Food Sciences

Written by Michael Castellon

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Nov. 30, 2005
CONTACT: Cory Chandler, cory.chandler@ttu.edu

TWO ENDOWMENTS BENEFIT ANIMAL AND FOOD SCIENCES

LUBBOCK – The Texas Tech Foundation Inc. and Texas Tech’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources announced Wednesday two new endowments, totaling $1.5 million, created by former animal science associate professor Gordon W. Davis to benefit the Department of Animal and Food Sciences.

The $1 million Gordon W. Davis Endowed Chair will create a new faculty position within the Department of Animal and Food Sciences. Funds generated by the endowment will be used to recruit a faculty member with nationally recognized skills in meat science and muscle biology. Additionally, the funds will help support the chair holder’s teaching, research and outreach programs in these areas.

Davis’ $500,000 gift was matched with $500,000 from the Regents’ Faculty Endowment Program. The endowed chair is one of several established under the Regents Faculty Endowment Program. Gifts of $500,000 are matched with existing university funds to create named chairs. The program is part of the university’s goal of recruiting and retaining quality faculty members.

Additionally, the $500,000 Gordon W. Davis Meat Science Enhancement Endowment will provide support to the department’s Meat Science Laboratory. Funds generated by the endowment will maintain facility equipment and support teaching, outreach and research activities.

In recognition of his generosity and impact on students, the facility’s name has been changed to the Gordon W. Davis Meat Science Laboratory.

Davis, the son of Aubrey and Gladys Davis from Deer Park, Wash., is, President/CEO and founder of CEV Multimedia, Ltd., which produces multimedia textbooks for curriculums in seven subject areas— agriculture, business, biology, family & consumer sciences, marketing, trade & industry and careers.

Prior to founding CEV in 1984, Davis excelled in research, teaching, and public service in the area of meat science and muscle biology. As a research scientist, he conducted or directed 26 beef, pork, and other research projects.

During his 21-year teaching career, he was a high school agricultural science teacher, an instructor at Texas A&M University, an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee, and an associate professor in the Animal Science Department at Texas Tech University.

In 1984, 1996, and 1997, he co-founded three meat science related endowments administered in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at Texas Tech University. Since inception, about 300 Texas Tech University students have received $250-$1,000 scholarships from these endowments.

Davis was a member of the 1964 “Washington State Dairy Family of the Year.” He graduated from Deer Park High School in 1964 and Washington State University in 1968. In making the gift, Davis said he would like to give thanks to the Washington State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, his parents and family for their support.