30 September 2009

Missouri gets $3 million energy chair

Missouri University of Science and Technology’s emphasis in energy research and education will soon get a big boost, thanks to a $3 million gift from a retired oil and natural gas executive and graduate of the university.

The gift from Wayne Laufer, a 1967 civil engineering graduate of Missouri S&T, and his wife, Gayle, will fund the university’s first endowed chair in energy research.

Laufer is the retired co-founder and chief executive of Bois d’Arc Energy Inc., a NYSE Houston-based company that specialized in offshore oil and natural gas exploration and production. “I believe it’s very important for our nation to focus its capital investment and scientific talent on ways to more efficiently develop and utilize our primary sources of energy, and that’s one reason Gayle and I provided this support to Missouri S&T,” said Laufer.

Since earning his civil engineering degree from the Rolla campus, Laufer’s career has been in the energy industry. His first job out of college was as a production engineer for Shell Oil Co. for whom he worked from 1967-1977.

For related information, go to www.isa.org/link/powerIND.