Longtime University Volunteer And Wife Commit $1 Million To Create Endowments

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - University of Arkansas Trustee Charles E. Scharlau and his wife, Clydene, of Fayetteville have made a $1 million gift to create three endowment funds at the University of Arkansas.

The first will create an endowed professorship in the chemistry department in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences. The second will establish an endowed acquisitions fund at the School of Law. And the third will create an endowed acquisitions fund for the benefit of University Libraries.

"We are most grateful to Charles and Clydene Scharlau for the support these endowments will provide," UA Chancellor John A. White said. "Charles Scharlau is very much a part of the history of the University of Arkansas through his service as a valued volunteer and advisor. It’s particularly meaningful that he and Clydene have chosen to continue to support the University with their time and resources. As we rise to meet the challenge for the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century, raising funds for academics and academic support programs is of even greater importance as we strive to grow the size and quality of our faculty, staff and student bodies."

Charles Scharlau is a 1951 graduate of the UA School of Law and is the retired chairman, president and CEO of Southwestern Energy Co. Mr. Scharlau worked at Southwestern Energy Co. for 47 years until his retirement in 1998 from his position as CEO of the company and its subsidiaries: Arkansas Western Gas Co, SEECO, Southwestern Energy Production Company and Southwestern Energy Services Co. He began working for the company in 1951 as a lawyer, having been recommended by Dean Robert Leflar of the UA School of Law. He is presently of counsel with the law firm of Conner and Winters.

His leadership and service to the University of Arkansas has been extensive. In addition to being a member of the Board of Trustees, he is a member of the National Development Council (NDC), a volunteer organization that supports and advises the University in developing, enhancing and strengthening its academic and research programs. He was chairman of the NDC during the last campaign, when the U of A raised $178 million from 1992-1996. He is a member of the Chancellor’s Society and the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century Steering Committee.

Vice Chancellor for University Advancement G. David Gearhart said, "I’d like to thank Charles and Clydene Scharlau for their extraordinary leadership and generosity. Charles has been a valued leader and advisor to us over the years and we are grateful for the Scharlaus’ generosity to the University. The success of our last campaign was due in large part to his leadership and fund-raising efforts."

Over the years, Mr. Scharlau has also served as an advisory board member for the UA Genesis Project. He is a past president of the Arkansas Alumni Association. He has received honors from the University, including Outstanding Volunteer, Citation for Distinguished Alumni and Outstanding Alumnus from the School of Law.

Mr. Scharlau said, "We are pleased to be a small part of he great effort by friends, alumni and supporters of the University to create an endowment that will enable the University to produce the next generation of leaders to lead Arkansas into the knowledge-based high-tech economy of the twenty-first century."

Mrs. Scharlau, a native of Portland, Ore., attended the College of Idaho.

Three of Mr. and Mrs. Scharlau’s five children have a total of six degrees from the University.

Mr. Scharlau has also been involved with community and religious groups including the Central United Methodist Church, the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce, the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce and is chairman of the executive committee of the Northwest Arkansas Council.

In 1999, the Scharlaus were honored by Southwestern Energy Company when the company created the Charles E. and Cyldene Scharlau Endowed Chancellor’s Scholarship. At the time, Harold Korell, president and CEO of Southwestern Energy said, "The Board of Directors and I couldn’t think of a better way to honor a couple who have given so much of their time and energy to this company and this university."

Started in 1998, the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century is a seven-year effort to raise $900 million in private gift support by June 30, 2005. Campaign funds are being used to help the University achieve its vision for the twenty-first century. Campaign funds are being raised for six critical areas of need: endowed faculty positions, scholarship funds, academic programs, University Libraries, academic facilities and equipment and annual giving.

As of April 30, 2002, the Campaign had raised $612.5 million in gifts and pledges. Of the $900 million Campaign goal, $300 million is being raised as part of what’s being called the $300 Million Challenge, in response to the Walton family’s condition that the University of Arkansas match their $300 million gift. All gifts made to academics and academic support programs since Jan. 1, 2002, will be counted toward the Challenge. Between Jan. 1, 2002 and April 30, 2002, the University of Arkansas had raised $16 million toward the $300 Million Challenge.

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