The University of Texas at Arlington

John L. Goolsby has laid many foundations in his lifetime. This time, however, he is helping build foundations of a different sort; the kind on which careers are built. The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) recently received the largest gift in the history of the university. A $2 million gift was made by an anonymous donor to the UT Arlington College of Business Administration in honor of John Goolsby and his wife, Judy. This gift established the Goolsby Leaders Endowed Fund, which

"Spruce Goose" - at the Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville, Oregon. Spruce Goose Photo - Katherine Huit / Evergreen Aviation Museum

supports the Goolsby Leadership Academy, created endowed scholarships for students participating in the Academy, and funded four Professorships in support of the Academy and the College of Business Administration.

The Goolsby Leaders Endowed Fund, funded at $1 million and invested in the Long Term Fund, will support the Goolsby Leadership Academy. Yielding over $50,000 annually, the endowment fund will allow the Academy to turn leadership potential into leadership reality for the Goolsby Fellows, a select group of undergraduate students. Fellowships initially will be awarded to undergraduate juniors and seniors, but freshman in the top 10% of their class who possess leadership potential will also be recruited. These students will participate in numerous leadership development experiences, take classes together and receive executive-student mentoring.

A matching gift opportunity comes with the gift which could bring the total amount to $5 million. Prior to the completion of the matching gift initiative, the College of Business Administration proposes to match the $50,000 distribution on an annual basis. This will enable the College to name 20 Goolsby Fellows each year with an award of $4,000 each. The remaining $20,000 will be used for the expenses of the Academy which will begin in the fall of 2004.

The remaining half of the $2 million gift will support four endowed faculty positions. While not discipline specific, the holders of these four endowed positions will teach and participate in the College as other professors, but each will have a part in the Goolsby Leadership Academy as part of their responsibilities.

John Goolsby

The remaining half of the $2 million gift will support four endowed faculty positions. While not discipline specific, the holders of these four endowed positions will teach and participate in the College as other professors, but each will have a part in the Goolsby Leadership Academy as part of their responsibilities. "I am extremely thankful to the donor," Goolsby said. "This gift will create a unique opportunity

to make a real difference in the educational experience offered to the students selected to participate. Judy and I look forward to working with Dean Himarios and the Goolsby Fellows as the program is developed. I value the education I received from UTA and hope to give back in a small way to future students of this fine institution."

John Goolsby, who worked as a brick-layer for his father-in-law during high school and college, was born in Hughes Springs, Texas but moved to Fort Worth with his parents when he was 2. His father was a machinist with General Dynamics Aircraft, and Goolsby credits his father's example of hard work and deep religious faith as being instrumental in teaching him the basic ethics of living and doing business. As a first generation college student, he studied business and accounting at UTA where he received his BBA in 1964. After college he worked as a management trainee at Southwestern Bell and went on to establish his own real estate firm in San Antonio. In 1980 he moved to Las Vegas, Nevada and became the Vice President of Howard Hughes Corporation. He was later appointed to President in 1988, and was named President and CEO in 1990. He retired in 1998 after 18 years with the Howard Hughes Corporation. Goolsby serves on UTA's Development Board, and is a member of the UT System Chancellor's Council. He is a lifetime member of the UTA Alumni Association and is recognized as a member of the Carlisle Society. He was also named a UTA Business Leader in 1994 and UTA Distinguished Alumnus in 1998.