William and Donna Willis Establish Endowed Geology Fund

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Left, William Willis teaches a geology lab in the late 1970s. Right, William and Donna Willis.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – William and Donna Willis of Hot Springs, Ark., have made a $100,000 estate gift benefiting the department of geosciences within the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. The gift will be used to establish the William H. and Donna M. Willis Endowed Geology Fund, which – when fully funded – will provide unrestricted support for graduate students seeking masters-level degrees in geology.

William, who works as the southern minerals manager for Weyerhaeuser Co., fondly remembers two of his undergraduate geology professors, Doy Zachry and Walt Manger, and credits them for the idea of giving back. “The seed was planted by those two,” he said. “And I’ve been thinking about it since then.”

He continued, “I had no previous exposure to geology, but their welcoming and magnetic personalities just made the subject matter jump off the page. It was a defining moment, and I came to love the applied science and business of geology.”

“William and Donna Willis are wonderful friends of our college and university,” said Fulbright College Dean Robin Roberts. “They will be impacting the department of geosciences significantly with this estate gift, and we are happy to celebrate that legacy with them. I know the department already appreciates William Willis’s insight and involvement. This gift is a bonus to everything he has already done.”

William, who met his wife while attending the university, said she played a big role in his becoming a geologist. “I couldn’t decide on a major,” he said. “There were so many areas that interested me. I felt like a kid in a candy store.” However, when he told her how much he enjoyed his geology classes, she suggested he major in it. “She recognized the spark and quietly suggested I declare it as my major. She might have temporarily regretted this when I dictated my M.S. thesis for her to type on a rented typewriter in Mullins Library,” he joked. “However, she persevered and has been my ‘rock’ in life and my career.”

Coming from a geologist, that’s a great compliment.

William graduated with both undergraduate and graduate degrees in geology from Fulbright College and has enjoyed a successful career working as a petroleum geologist and minerals manager. He worked for the Davis Oil Co. in Tulsa, Okla., and Stephens Production Co. in Fort Smith, Ark., before joining Weyerhaeuser. Currently, he serves as the vice chairman of the Arkansas Geological Survey Board of Commissioners and is an honorary lifetime member of the Geosciences External Advisory Board for the Fulbright College. While serving on the advisory board, he has had the opportunity to become increasingly involved with the department that captured his attention as an undergraduate. “The future looks really bright for them,” he said. “It has been a great opportunity to give something back while working with a group of dedicated professionals who also respect the department.”

Donna holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration from the Sam M. Walton College of Business, a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the College of Education and Health Professions and master’s degrees from two other Arkansas universities. She currently works as a library media specialist for the Hot Springs Public Schools.

Ralph Davis, chair of the department of geosciences, has worked with William on the Geosciences External Advisory Board and knows this gift will make a significant impact for his department. “William has been an advocate of ours for some time now. He has even been instrumental in hiring 10 students from our department for summer internships with his company,” he said. “This gift, coupled with others we’ve received lately, has provided our department with excitement and momentum. It is wonderful to see our graduates be successful and give back in this way. We appreciate their enthusiasm and generosity.”

Both William and Donna consider themselves major proponents of higher education. Their sons – Matt, Clay and Will – all attended the university, as did Matt’s wife, Rebecca Felton Willis. In fact, there are five degrees among them. The entire family enjoys supporting the Razorbacks and attending as many athletic events as possible. Because of their philanthropy to the university, William and Donna will be inducted into the Towers of Old Main this spring.