Rolla, Mo. – A $2.1 million permanent endowment established by Missouri S&T alumnus Gene Gowins will provide ongoing support for physics students at the university. Gowins, who earned two master’s degrees in physics from S&T in the early 1960s, created the endowment based on his thankfulness for the education he received and a desire to help future physicists.
Gowins’s passion for physics is deeply rooted. “To me, physics is man’s effort to create a mathematic model that identifies some of nature’s secrets,” he said. He specialized his studies with a thesis on the piezoelectric properties of thallium nitrate and pursued a master’s degree specifically for teachers.
The gift was inspired, in part, by the mentorship of two S&T physics professors: Dr.Harold Q. Fuller, who served as physics department chair from 1948 to 1970 and later became founding dean of the College of Arts and sciences, and Dr. Franklin Pauls, the first director of Missouri S&T’s nuclear reactor – the first operational nuclear reactor in Missouri. Gowins credits Fuller with helping him secure a teaching position that enabled him to continue his studies.
“I’ll never have the kind of impact they had on me, but I’m pleased to be able to make it possible for students to worry less about expenses and focus more on physics,” Gowins stated.
Before retiring, Gowins contributed to meaningful aerospace and defense projects. As a Boeing employee,he worked on the Nuclear Engine for rocket vehicle Submission (NERVA) program and simulations for the Saturn V rocket. He later worked with the U.S. Army Missile command on advanced sensors, including laser and infrared-guided missiles.
Gowins expressed his belief that supporting Missouri S&T is a beneficial investment. “I want to invest where I think it will do the most good,” he said. “For me, supporting Missouri S&T is a win-win for the students, the university and our country.”
Missouri University of Science and Technology is a STEM-focused research university with over 7,000 students. Part of the University of Missouri System, S&T offers over 100 degrees in 40 areas of study and is recognized among the nation’s top public universities for salary impact, according to The Wall Street Journal. More information is available at www.mst.edu.
