Houston Couple Commit $1M for Dual Business, Education Chairs at OSU

Watson family demonstrates desire to see OSU as top university  

Oklahoma State University has announced a $1 million gift from Houston residents Kim and Chuck Watson to create two chairs: one in business and another in education at OSU.  Once fully matched dollar-for-dollar by T. Boone Pickens’ $100 million chair match commitment, as well as the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, the gift will have the impact of $4 million in endowed funds.

Kim Watson is a retired teacher and active in women’s ministry.  Chuck Watson is the chairman of Global Commodities for Lehman Brothers in Houston. Kim is a ’73 elementary education alumna and Chuck is a ’72 economics alumnus.  All three of their children also obtained degrees from the university within the business school and the college of education.

“The response from our alumni and friends has exceeded our wildest expectations,” said OSU President Burns Hargis.  “Inspired by Boone Pickens’ astounding generosity, donors answered the call to make a lasting difference and open a new and exciting chapter at OSU.  We sincerely appreciate everything Kim and Chuck have done for OSU and want to say a special thanks for this important gift.” 

In order to take full advantage of the state’s dollar-for-dollar match, and make the most significant impact on OSU academics, the Watsons made the gift prior to the July 1 change in the state’s endowed chair matching program.  This gift is part of the $66.8 million in endowed faculty gifts OSU announced recently.  

The gift will create the Kim and Chuck Watson Chair in Business located within the Spears School of Business, and the Kim and Chuck Watson Chair in Education located within the College of Education.

“Kim and I have been longtime supporters of OSU, and when Burns Hargis asked us to participate in the Professorship/Chair matching program, we were happy to get involved,” said Chuck.  “A chair for the Spears School and the College of Education will help elevate the university to be one of the best schools in the country.  My wife and I, along with our three children, graduated from OSU.  We believe OSU provides a solid foundation for students to succeed both academically and socially in today’s environment.”

Jean Van Delinder, chair of the OSU Faculty Council, said, “OSU is poised for growth and further prominence but to realize its full potential we must continue to attract and retain top scholars and researchers. These chairs highlight the important role that scholarship and teaching play at Oklahoma State University, and they are made possible through the generous support of donors who value excellence in scholarship and want to help OSU continue to nurture a strong faculty.”

Endowed professorships and chairs are academic designations which provide support for faculty salary, graduate assistantships, equipment and research needs, as well as other support.  These endowed faculty positions allow a university to attract and retain the best and the brightest academic minds in the world.

Oklahoma’s only university with a statewide presence, Oklahoma State University is a five-campus, public land-grant educational system that improves the lives of people in Oklahoma, the nation, and the world through integrated, high-quality teaching, research and outreach.  OSU has more than 32,000 students across its system and nearly 21,000 on its Stillwater campus; with students from all 50 states and around 110 nations.  Established in 1890, OSU has graduated more than 200,000 students who have made a lasting impact on Oklahoma and the world.  

The Oklahoma State University Foundation serves as the private fundraising organization for OSU, as designated by the OSU Regents. Its mission is to unite donor and university passions and priorities to achieve excellence.

Top of page ^