Houston Energy Creates $300k Distinguished Professorship in the College of Basic Sciences

Houston Energy partners Ron Neal (left) and Billy Harrison (right) with LSU Basic Sciences Director of Development, Ann Marie Marmande.

May 23, 2007 — Texas-based Houston Energy, LP has created a new Distinguished Professorship in the College of Basic Sciences with a gift of $180,000. The professorship, which will reside in the Department of Geology & Geophysics, will be matched with $120,000 in funds from the Board of Regents Support Fund.

The Professorship will allow a faculty member to carry the Houston Energy Professorship name and earnings from the professorship to contribute to the research efforts of the department, such as supplementing stipends of graduate students in the Geology & Geophysics.

Alumni Ron Neal and Billy Harrison, who are partners in Houston Energy, created the gift through the LSU Foundation. Houston Energy, L.P. is a privately held independent oil and gas company exploring the Offshore Gulf of Mexico, South Louisiana, Texas Gulf Coast, and West Texas/Southeastern New Mexico.

“This gift from Houston Energy is extremely important because of the much needed support it provides in an area that has not been available to us before,” said Dean Kevin Carman. “The Houston Energy Professorship will be a vital resource for Geology & Geophysics that will allow the department to attract and retain outstanding graduate students who are extremely important to the research programs of our faculty.”

Ron Neal graduated from LSU with a bachelor’s degree in zoology in 1974 and a master’s degree in geology in 1977. He is married to LSU graduate, Dr. Mary E. Neal, and they previously created the Ernest & Alice Neal Professorship in Geology & Geophysics in honor of Ron’s parents.

Billy Harrison received is bachelor’s and master’s degrees from LSU in geology in 1976 and 1979. His wife, Ann, is an LSU graduate and they have previously funded the Billy and Ann Harrison Chair in Sedimentology, the Harrison Family Field Camp Professorship and an Alumni Association Top 100 Scholarship in honor of Billy’s parents.

Geology & Geophysics chair, Laurie Anderson, stated, “Billy and Ron are among the department’s most loyal and generous supporters, and we are tremendously grateful for their ongoing support.”