Tarleton State University
From left, Tarleton President James Hurley, Henry Hohenberger, and Kindall Hurley.
Tarleton State University alum Henry Hohenberger has made an unprecedented eight-figure philanthropic contribution to his alma mater, the university announced on Tuesday.
The amount will be disclosed later this spring.
Hohenberger sold a portion of his ranch in Marble Falls, Texas, enabling him to contribute the largest cash gift ever to the Tarleton Foundation for the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and to establish a charitable trust.
The donation establishes the Henry Hohenberger Land Endowment for the college to provide resources in high-need areas and professional development opportunities for faculty and students, and to enhance best-in-class agricultural research.
“This extraordinarily generous gift is the largest in university history and will provide cutting-edge technology for research and teaching, world-class learning opportunities and scholarships,” Tarleton President James Hurley said in a statement. “On behalf of the entire Tarleton family, I extend immense gratitude to Henry for helping us develop agriculture leaders and innovative technologies that will boost the Texas economy and transform lives for decades to come.”
Hohenberger hails from a ranching background and has worked the family property near Marble Falls throughout his life. He holds two degrees from Tarleton in agriculture education — a bachelor’s earned in 1971 and a master’s in 1972. He was in the first class to receive a master’s degree at the university.
He taught agriculture education at Marble Falls High School and continues to be a staunch advocate for agriculture education and its co-curricular experiences.
“I’ve never been married, and I don’t have children of my own,” Hohenberger said. “I thought it would be something beneficial to the college and help students. It will be there working continuously from here on out.”
Last summer Hohenberger gave a then-record donation to expand hands-on experiences for students at the Tarleton Agriculture Center. The Henry Hohenberger Endowment provides working scholarships as well as scholarships for students who wish to become secondary school teachers focused on agricultural mechanics.
“That’s the thing about Henry,” said Janice Horak, Tarleton executive director of development. “With him it’s about the land. It’s about knowing where our food comes from and making sure future generations understand the impact agriculture has on our lives. His generosity has made that a reality.”
Tarleton, a founding member of The Texas A&M University System, serves 15,000 students in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Midlothian, A&M RELLIS at Bryan, and online.