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Holcombs Gifts Enrich Chemical Engineering

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Bill and Virginia Holcomb

William Franklin (Bill) Holcomb, B.S. Chemical Engineering '60, has been a strong supporter of the Department of Chemical Engineering for many years. In 2002 he established the William and Virginia Holcomb Endowment in Chemical Engineering in memory of his wife, who, in Bill's words, "inspired a family to love and learn forever." Bill wanted this endowment to provide discretionary funds that the department could use in ways that would enrich the students' experiences during their years at NMSU.

This endowment has grown significantly over the years. Most recently Bill decided to add to the fund with a direct charitable distribution from his IRA. "I try to add to the endowment fund in chemical engineering every chance I get," Bill says. "It gives me great pleasure to help future 'Chem Es' as a tribute to my wife and to Professor Shires and the department for providing me with a very satisfying career in chemical engineering. This year I got an extra bonus from using the yearly IRA distribution to fund a gift."

For current department head Dr. Martha Mitchell, this endowment has truly been a blessing-so has Bill's friendship with the department. "For the last several years, Bill has singlehandedly sponsored the NMSU WERC design contest team," she says. "The students have an opportunity to work together in a volunteer team to come up with a solution to an environmental task sponsored by WERC, a consortium for environmental education and technology development."

According to one team member, the support from Bill's gifts really gives students the freedom to be creative. The funding allows students to focus on what is possible instead of what is already available.

Bill is a fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and worked as a radiation safety training officer in the U.S. Public Health Service of the National Institutes of Health. Now retired, he is respected as an expert in the management and disposal of radioactive waste.

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