Trustee Dave Petrone ’66, MBA ’68, and Nancy Petrone have established a new faculty fellowship for research.

Petrone, who received his undergraduate degree in economics in ’66 and an MBA in ’68, donated money to the School as part of a total gift to the University of $1 million. The Autzen Stadium expansion project received $800,000, and $100,000 has been allotted to help furnish the South Reading Room in the Knight Library.

Petrone, whose niece graduated from the School, said the gift to the School was inspired in part by his high regard for former Dean Dun-can McDonald, for current Dean Tim Gleason, and for former UO Foundation trustee Margie Lehrman ’66, a producer for NBC in Washington, D.C., who has been a strong supporter of the School.

"I thought of where to give money," said Petrone. "Journalism hit me because of the people and reputation of the School."

The Petrones said they established the faculty fellowship to attract and retain outstanding faculty.

Dean Tim Gleason said the fellowship will give the faculty more freedom to pursue new avenues in teaching and research.

"We have a great faculty with a lot of innovative ideas," said Gleason. "The Petrone endowment will provide a marvelous opportunity to pursue those ideas."

Dave Petrone is chairman of Housing Capital Company, a joint venture with US Bancorp that he started with a business partner. The company, located in San Mateo, Calif., lends money to developers for residential housing. Prior to starting the company, Petrone was Vice-Chairman at Wells Fargo and Company in San Francisco, where he spent 19 years.

Petrone has been active on behalf of the UO for a number of years. Among other involvement with UO programs, he served as volunteer head for The Oregon Campaign, which raised $255 million for the UO between 1992 and 1998. His work on The Oregon Campaign earned him a UO Presidential Medal in 1999.