$16 million gift honors late KU alumnus Donald C. Slawson

At the age of 24, he founded Slawson Exploration, an oil and gas exploration firm that became one of the most active oil drilling operations in the United States. He later expanded the firm to include residential and commercial real estate development. He served two terms on the National Petroleum Council, to which he respectively was appointed by Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush. He also served on the boards of directors of Intrust Bank, Cessna Aircraft Company, Kansas Gas and Electric Company and Security Benefit Life Insurance Company.

“The Slawson family is extremely grateful that the University of Kansas has named the new Slawson Hall to honor Don’s long legacy of furthering the Kansas energy industry,” said one of his sons, Todd Slawson. “The Slawson family has cherished KU for five generations. It is a fitting tribute that Slawson Hall will house and integrate both geology and petroleum engineering curricula, noting Don’s passion for the oil industry and higher education.”

Slawson Hall will be part of the Earth, Energy and Environment Center, located at the corner of Naismith Drive and Jayhawk Boulevard. The center’s spaces will include auditoriums, classrooms, laboratories and multi-purpose spaces that foster cross-disciplinary collaboration among researchers in numerous earth science and energy fields, including geology, engineering, geophysics, energy, nanotechnology, energy storage and the environment. A portion of Slawson Hall will be dedicated to technology transfer, providing real-world applications to discoveries and developments made at KU.

“The generosity of Don and his family has made it possible for us to move forward on this landmark project that advances our efforts to identify new and sustainable sources of energy for our world,” said Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little. “With Don’s passing, KU and Kansas have lost a true advocate for higher education, but his legacy will live on and benefit countless others through Slawson Hall. On behalf of the university, I offer my sincere condolences to Judy, their children, and all who are grieving Don’s death.”

In his support of higher education, Slawson served two terms on the Kansas Board of Regents and was chair from 1987 to 1993. Slawson was president of the KU Alumni Association and of KU’s Athletic Board. He and his wife, Judy, met at KU and raised three sons, including two KU alumni — Steve Slawson, Craig Slawson, ’80, geology; and Todd Slawson, ’84, petroleum engineering.