Mississippi State's largest gift to fund new engineering facility

The gift represents the largest single donation in the university's 116-year history.

The new facility will house offices of the chemical engineering department, as well as general-use classrooms and an auditorium. The four-story building will be positioned on the south end of the historic Drill Field, directly opposite Lee Hall.

Swalm, a 1955 graduate, is chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Texas Olefins Co., the nation's largest privately owned producer of petrochemical raw materials.

President Donald Zacharias said Swalm also has secured from Gov. Kirk Fordice a pledge to support a request for $3 million in state funds.

"Dave Swalm wanted this building for Mississippi State University and he is taking the initiative to ensure that it becomes a reality," said Zacharias. "Dave is dedicated to the future of Mississippi State and its faculty and students. This is another example of that dedication."

Swalm entered Mississippi State in 1951 after graduating from Brookhaven High School. Upon receiving a Mississippi State degree, he went on to hold positions as a design engineer for Dow Chemical Co., a production engineer for Texas Butadiene and Chemical Corp., a regional manager for Sinclair Petrochemicals Inc., and as a marketer for Steuber Co.

Since 1988, Swalm and his wife, Beth, who serves as president of the Swalm Foundation, have provided more than $12 million to support faculty salary supplements, student scholarships, professional support for faculty, and equipment purchases.

A gift from Swalm funded the recently completed club house at the Mississippi State University Golf Course. He also donated a herd of cattle to the university's animal and dairy science department.

Swalm is a member of the Mississippi State University Foundation board, American Institute of Chemical Engineers and Chemical Marketing Research Association.