Colorado Couple Donates $100,000 to Engineering

Photo Submitted

Tom and Alice Stephens.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – W.T. “Tom” Stephens and his wife, Alice, of Greenwood Village, Colo., have made a $100,000 gift to the College of Engineering’s Dean’s Advisory Council. The contribution will allow John English, dean of the college, the flexibility to use the funds for areas of greatest need.

 “Tom has been involved on the Dean’s Advisory Council for over a decade, so he sees first-hand how unrestricted funds can benefit the College of Engineering,” English said. “He has been an excellent volunteer and champion of ours. I applaud Tom and Alice for understanding the importance of this designation and trusting us to invest wisely in the areas that propel our college forward and help us meet our goals.”

A factor influencing Stephens to make his donation was English himself.

“During the last advisory council meeting, I had the opportunity to hear Dean English speak,” said Stephens. “I am impressed with his leadership and the excitement he is bringing to the college.”

Stephens holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the College of Engineering. He was named an Arkansas Alumni Association distinguished alumnus in 1994 and served as the College of Engineering commencement speaker in 1995. He is a lifetime member of the Arkansas Alumni Association and was recognized in the College of Engineering Hall of Fame in 2007. He retired from his position as chairman and chief executive officer of Boise Cascade Holdings LLC in 2008. He also has served as the chairman and CEO of Johns Manville, CEO of McMillian Bloedel, and CEO of Riverwood.

“There was never a doubt of where I would go or what I would study,” Stephens said of the U of A. “I was destined to go there since the day I was born, and engineering was in my genes.” Stephens credits family members, and a cousin, Bob Green, in particular, for inspiring his career choice, and says his wife, Alice, encouraged him to consider making their gift unrestricted to the College of Engineering.

Alice Stephens is actively involved in non-profit work in the Denver area and serves on the board of the BabiesNow! Foundation. She is also an emeritus board member for Girls Inc. of Metro Denver. Both she and her husband are recognized in the University of Arkansas Towers of Old Main, a society that honors the university’s most generous benefactors.