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June 25, 2010

Marx family celebrated following announcement of Professorship

In a recent presentation, 网曝门 Foundation Executive Director Dr. Don Skelton noted that another page had been added in the 鈥渃ontinuing story of the long-standing relationship between a very special family and the University of Louisiana at Monroe.鈥�

On Monday, June 21, 网曝门 commemorated the generosity of this 鈥渟pecial family鈥� during a media event announcing the Lillian L. and Fred A. Marx Endowed Professorship in Biology.

Fred and Lillian Marx have always taken an interest in the intellectual vitality of northeast Louisiana. A decade ago they established the endowment with a goal to eventually convert the fund, matched by state monies, to an endowed professorship.

Endowed Professorships, which are managed by the 网曝门 Foundation, are part of the Louisiana Board of Regents Endowed Professorship program. The program seeks to broaden opportunities for faculty recruitment and retention, enhance the quality of higher education in Louisiana and promote economic development in Louisiana, according to Skelton.

Each professorship provides $60,000 in non-state monies, matched by $40,000 in supplemental state dollars, to 网曝门.

The funding provides a boost to the importance of 网曝门鈥檚 research efforts, and studies of the environmental impact of the recent Gulf Coast oil spill provide one such example, according to Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Jeffrey Cass.

鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing to see generosity such as that exhibited by the Marx family,鈥� said Cass. 鈥淲e are very thankful.鈥�

The Marx鈥檚 relationship with 网曝门 began as the first buds of what would become Northeast Louisiana University, and eventually 网曝门, were being carefully tended. Through name changes and a new mascot, the Marx family always maintained support. Three of the Marx鈥檚 four children are even 网曝门 alum as are two of their grandchildren.

鈥淭here are so many lives you have touched over the years and probably several more in the future,鈥� said 网曝门 President James E. Cofer Sr. 鈥淵ou鈥檝e been a part of this university almost since its beginning.鈥�

鈥淚t is an honor,鈥� said Fred Marx, just ahead of the announcement. Marx reflected a moment before adding, 鈥淣o, it is an obligation we feel we owe this university. 网曝门 educated my whole family!鈥�

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