News and Progress

MU Engineering receives $7.5 million gift for facilities

Nov. 19, 2004

The University of Missouri-Columbia received a $7.5 million gift from Tom and Nell Lafferre. The gift will be used for planning and construction of engineering facilities on the campus.

“The College of Engineering is excited and grateful for the generosity of the Lafferres,” Thompson said. “Their support will help us to remain competitive by offering the very best facilities that give our students the necessary tools to succeed in their engineering careers when they leave the University.”

It was announced today at the Board of Curator's meeting that as a result of this donation, Engineering Building East on the MU campus will be renamed “Thomas and Nellie Lafferre Hall.” Engineering Building East houses the majority of the College's classes. Mechanical and aerospace, industrial, civil and environmental, and chemical engineering are housed in the building.

Tom Lafferre earned his BS ME from MU in 1956, an MS from Washington University in 1967 and an advanced management degree from the Harvard University Graduate School of Business. He joined Monsanto upon graduation, serving in many management and engineering roles, eventually becoming vice president of operations. His wife, Nell, attended MU's College of Education for one year before the couple moved to St. Louis.