Message Sent
Thank you for your inquiry. We will respond to you as soon as possible.
Michael McEwen's '59 geological studies propelled him into worlds unknown as a scientist at NASA. Now, through a gift of investment property, he is ensuring that students can pioneer their own paths.
After graduating from Bowling Green State University with a degree in geology, Michael McEwen wasn't sure where his professional path would lead him. "I just knew that I had a lot more to learn about geology," he said. Michael had learned about Rice while working a summer job at Shell Oil in Amarillo, Texas, and knew it would be an excellent place to continue his studies.
"I applied to a number of graduate schools, and Rice, of course, was a pretty clear winner. It was an excellent school located near lots of geologists, and it was tuition free," Michael said.
When he first arrived on campus, the geology department was located in a corner of the chemistry lecture hall. "The geology grad students and some faculty would occasionally play tag football against the chemistry students on the front lawn for ownership of the building," he recalled.
With the opening of the Keith-Weiss Geological Laboratories in 1958, students no longer had to fight for bragging rights, and a new era of geological discovery began. "With expanded faculty and very small classes, it was natural to engage in interesting research and stimulating discussions, particularly related to the newly espoused Theory of Plate Tectonics. Researchers at Rice were involved in a variety of early studies that supported the theory," Michael said.
After receiving his Ph.D., Michael returned to Shell doing subsurface exploration work in Corpus Christi and Houston. However, his professional trajectory took the first of many turns when he received a call from a friend at NASA asking if he would be interested in seeing what they had been working on.
"I basically had a half-dozen completely different careers within NASA," Michael explained. His first job was training Apollo astronauts in geology as they prepared for the first moon landing. Over the years, he pivoted away from geology and began conducting life sciences research in support of Mission Control Center, Sky Lab, the Space Shuttle, Spacelab and the International Space Station. Michael also tried his hand at international relations during the Cold War era, leading U.S. field research in the U.S.-Soviet Union bilateral agricultural sensing program, which helped to track crop health across the globe.
Over the span of his 34-year tenure at NASA, Michael says the most important discovery he made was meeting his wife and fellow NASA employee, Onalee. After the two retired, they decided to move back to Houston from the Clear Lake area. "We wanted to be near the things we like to do and closer to Rice," Michael said. "I'm very interested in music and the arts, and I probably come to the university at least two or three times a week for recitals and other performances. It's just a great place to be."
Michael knew he wanted to give back to Rice and had planned to leave a gift in his estate. Then a new opportunity presented itself. He and Onalee had owned a commercial property for years, but they weren't sure what to do with it after moving to Houston. "Maureen Phillips, director of development for gift planning, explained to us the advantages of placing that property into a charitable remainder trust with Rice," Michael explained. "Rice handles the sale of the property and places the proceeds of the sale into the Rice-managed trust, providing us income for our lifetimes."
Michael is thrilled that his gift will help students explore uncharted territory and discover their passions. "I can't think of a better place to invest in the future than Rice."