Downtown Rotary Endows DCOBA Professorship

Thanks to the Downtown Rotary Club of Wichita Falls, the Dillard College of Business Administration at Midwestern State University will have a new endowed professorship. The club has contributed $175,000 for the creation of the Tarkington-Downing Rotary Business Professorship Endowment.

Dr. Terry Patton, DCOBA dean, said that the endowment will be a great benefit to business students in that it will provide the additional resources necessary to hire another well-qualified faculty member.

"Professorships provide the recipient with monetary incentives to come to MSU as well as prestige," Patton said. "I commend the Rotary Club of Wichita Falls for their generosity and foresight in providing a gift that will help thousands of future MSU students."

Income from the endowment will fund a salary stipend, and help with research and travel expenses for the named professor. Patton said the endowment should be able to fund the position in approximately two years.

Wymore Downing was a 48-year member of the Rotary Club of Wichita Falls and the son of Jim Downing, a charter member of the club. Wayne Tarkington was a Rotary member for 32 years. Both Wymore Downing and Tarkington were Paul Harris Fellows, a high honor in Rotary. The Paul Harris Fellow recognition acknowledges individuals who contribute, or who have contributions made in their name, of $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. Harris was the Rotary founder.