麻豆影院

Gift also funds student sabbatical program, because Eugene Eaton believed 鈥榮tudying economics in an international setting would add a lot to the student鈥檚 appreciation for the discipline鈥�

A physically imposing man with a brilliant mind and self-deprecating wit, 麻豆影院 economics alumnus Eugene D. Eaton Jr. (鈥�65, 鈥�67, 鈥�71) was larger than life. He served as a navigator in the 9th Aerospace Defense Division of the U.S. Air Force. He was awarded a Fulbright professorship. He was a faculty member of the University of Alaska and, in his later years, worked as an economic consultant for organizations associated with the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System.

Eaton, who died in 2013, continues to leave an impact through estate gifts that establish endowments to benefit the Department of Economics and the College of Music at CU-麻豆影院. Combined, the commitments of more than $6 million constitute the largest gift the campus has received since 2007.

鈥淭his cross-disciplinary gift from an alumnus who remembered us in his will is leaving a legacy for generations of students,鈥� said Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano. 鈥淏equests like this shape the future of CU-麻豆影院 and we are grateful.鈥�

Eaton described his time as a CU-麻豆影院 student as 鈥渢hat wonderfully dissipating life鈥� and lamented in his self-authored obituary that 鈥渢oo soon I had a respectable doctorate 鈥� [I] had to face the prospect that I might actually have to become employed, a first for me.鈥�

While the social sciences engaged his mind and led to his successful career, it was music that riveted the economist outside of the classroom. Eaton attended many concerts at the College of Music and relished debates with the economics faculty, said Integrative Physiology Professor Todd Gleeson, who served as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences from 2002 through 2012.

鈥淚t was clear he embraced the academic community at CU-麻豆影院,鈥� said Gleeson, who knew Eaton well. 鈥淓conomics and music were clearly two different areas of interest for him, and he pursued both of them carefully. This gift was his attempt to address his two passions: one professional and one cultural.鈥�

The economics portion of the gift, which totals more than $3.7 million, will be split two ways:

• A $1.36 million endowment will fund a new travel sabbatical program for undergraduates, which will enable students in economics to broaden their knowledge of the marketplace in a culture other than their own. The program aims to provide a different kind of international experience for students who will design a creative and unconventional study plan abroad, with preference given to those interested in regions of the southern or eastern hemispheres.

鈥淕ene thought studying economics in an international setting would add a lot to the student鈥檚 appreciation for the discipline and for how other systems work,鈥� Gleeson said.

• A $2.36 million endowment will fund a new chair in economics, substantially enhancing the department鈥檚 ability to attract the most distinguished scholars and practitioners, said Professor Nicholas E. Flores, chair of the Department of Economics.

鈥淥n all levels, this gift is huge for us,鈥� Flores said. 鈥淵ou get expertise and a record of scholarship immediately from a senior scholar.鈥�

In addition, $2.36 million from the gift will fund an endowed chair of Baroque music in the College of Music.听.

Melanie Sidwell is communications manager at the听.