COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- The Clark Construction Group LLC, one of the nation's largest providers of construction services, and its top leader have committed $2 million to civil engineering excellence at Texas A&M University.

The company will establish $1 million graduate fellowship and $500,000 professorship endowments to strengthen the civil engineering program's focus on design and construction. Both will be named to honor chairman and chief executive officer Peter C. Forster.

In addition, Forster and his wife, Betsy, will add their personal gift of $500,000 to support an endowment earmarked for future needs of the Zachry Department of Civil Engineering

"This gift represents a tremendous investment in our programs in the broad areas of design and construction. Through their vision and generosity, Clark Construction and Mr. and Mrs. Forster will help us continue to attract and support the best students and faculty in the nation, and train future generations of engineers in the civil/construction industry," said Dr. David V. Rosowsky, department head and holder of the A.P. and Florence Wiley Chair in Civil Engineering.

The Peter C. Forster Fellowship will be awarded to graduate students who are U.S. residents and planning careers in the design and construction field through construction engineering and management, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering or transportation engineering.

The Peter C. Forster Professorship will support the teaching, research, service and professional development activities of a nationally prominent scholar.

"Betsy and I are deeply indebted to A&M and are happy to be able to invest in the future," said Forster, Texas A&M Class of 1963, who will be recognized March 29 with the department's Distinguished Graduate Award for lifetime achievement.

A native of South Texas, Forster graduated from Harlingen High School. At Texas A&M, he was a member of Squadron 9, Third Group Staff and the Ross Volunteers, all in the Corps of Cadets. He graduated with bachelor's degrees in business administration and civil engineering.

Before joining Clark Construction in 1987, he was president and chief operating officer for Blount Brothers Corp. and Blount International.

Forster is a former chairman of the Construction Industry Round Table (CIRT). He is a member of the Knights of Malta and serves on the Board of the Weston Jesuit School of Theology and the National Capital Area Boy Scouts.

He and his wife, Betsy, have been married 41 years. They have two married children and three grandchildren.

Betsy Forster is a professional artist and member of Touchstone Gallery in the 7th Street Arts District of Washington, D.C. Her paintings in oil, mixed media and pastels reflect a love of nature.

A native of Dallas, she graduated from Austin College. She and her husband are active supporters of Austin College.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., The Clark Construction Group LLC has 4,000-plus employees and over $2 billion in annual revenue and major projects throughout the United States.

Founded in 1906, the company will receive the National Building Museum's 2006 Honor Award later this year to commemorate its centennial anniversary, notable work portfolio and longstanding commitment to community service. The award cites the company's impact in shaping the commercial, residential, public, and infrastructure sectors of U.S. cities while upholding the highest standards of safety, craftsmanship, and technical excellence.

The company is a seven-time winner of the Associated General Contractors' prestigious Build America Award and a five-time winner of the Associated Builders and Contractors' highest honor, the Eagle Award.

Previous Texas A&M support by the Forsters and The Clark Construction Group have benefited the Corps of Cadets, College of Architecture, George Bush Presidential Library Foundation and Student Conference on National Affairs.

The most recent gifts by Clark Construction and the Forsters are part of the One Spirit One Vision Campaign, the university's $1 billion multiyear fund-raising effort aimed at helping Texas A&M attain national top 10 status among public universities while sustaining the distinctive Texas A&M spirit. The volunteer-led campaign, coordinated by the Texas A&M Foundation, encompasses all private gifts benefiting the university.

For more information, contact

Reporter: Exa York
e-york@tamu.edu

News Story 1302, February 27, 2006

Direct page link:
http://engineeringnews.tamu.edu/news/1302

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