Vol. 17, No. 20	Feb. 19, 1998

Gore family supports the power of education

On Aug. 8, 1995, the University of Delaware announced a multimillion-dollar gift from a prominent Delaware family-one of the most significant gifts in the entire history of the University of Delaware-to support the construction of a new classroom building on the University's Mall.

The $17.5 million gift from alumnus and trustee Robert W. Gore '59, alumna Sarah I. Gore '76M and Genevieve W. Gore has made possible the first addition to the tree-lined heart of the campus since H. Rodney Sharp Laboratory was built in 1961-62.

President David P. Roselle called the gift from the Gore family "truly remarkable" and said it was "fitting that the support be used to complete the campus core, as it was envisioned nearly a century ago." With their gift, the Gores joined the ranks of the University's most generous benefactors-H. Rodney Sharp, H. Fletcher Brown and P.S. du Pont-whose generosity is so much in evidence on the UD Mall.

At the Aug. 8 ceremony, Roselle said, "It is a distinct pleasure for me to publicly thank the Gores for their continuing generosity to the University. The family's active interest and enthusiastic support over many years have had tremendous impact on the life of this University and have enhanced the lives of many of our students."

Bob Gore, speaking at the ceremony that day on behalf of his mother, his wife and himself, said, "Today we are creating a vision. Our University leadership visualized an opportunity to enhance the future development and quality of education here at the University of Delaware through the building of a new, centrally located academic hall. Beyond the possibilities of improved teaching, ...they also recognized the important opportunity of adding to the beauty of the Mall, of adding a special building, one that is in total harmony with what is already here, yet one which could achieve its own character and could be unique in its own way....

"We want to congratulate the University leadership on the positive changes that are occurring here and the vision shown in this current project," he said. "The Gore family is pleased to be part of that today, and we find pleasure and satisfaction and excitement in being a part of the team that is helping make it happen."

Gore said that he, Sally and his mother "all have a strong belief in the power of education and its ability to change people's lives in a positive way, so we feel that our gift will bear fruit for future generations....

"Our family has a long history of ties to the University," Gore said. "Forty-five years ago when my father's job was bringing our family to Delaware, my parents, Bill and Vieve, chose Newark as our home town primarily because of its proximity to the University of Delaware. They hoped there would be special opportunities for us in the kind of environment that a University can create, and indeed we feel they have been right."

Gore is president of W.L. Gore & Associates Inc., international high-technology manufacturers of electronic, medical, industrial and fabrics products. Gore patented a method of insulating electronic cable when he was an engineering student at UD. His parents, Genevieve W. and the late Wilbert L. Gore, co-founded the family's business in the basement of their home, a business in which Vieve Gore continues to be active. Bob went on to discover a method of expanding the polymer PTFE, which led to GORE-TEX® products.

Bill and Vieve Gore were awarded University of Delaware Medals of Distinction in 1983, at a ceremony where then Vice President George Bush also was honored. A member of the UD Alumni Wall of Fame, Bob has served on the University's Board of Trustees since 1992, and is a past member of the Board of Directors of the University of Delaware Research Foundation.

Previously, family members have made substantial gifts across three of the University's colleges, as well as to the University of Delaware Research Foundation. Gifts have included support for the Colburn Laboratory Campaign, the Gore Entrepreneurial Scholarships in the College of Business and Economics, the College of Human Resources, various departments in the College of Engineering and fellowship and scholarship programs.

Photo by Robert Cohen