LATE Professor emeritus honors parents
through planned gift to texas a&m University-Kingsville
by Elaine Barnes
Coordinator, Alumni and Donor Communications
October 18, 2019 (Kingsville, TX) – The Texas A&M University-Kingsville Foundation announced that the late Dr. Drewey “Wayne” Gunn, Professor Emeritus of Texas A&M University-Kingsville, left a tremendous gift to the university – his estate, estimated at $1.3 million, given entirely in honor of Dr. Gunn’s parents, Josephine “Jo” and Bruce Gunn.
Beginning his career at then-Texas A&I University in 1968, Dr. Gunn taught an array of courses in American Literature, spanning over three decades, until his retirement from Texas A&M-Kingsville in 2001. He was granted his status as Professor Emeritus and continued to author many well-known scholarly works. Dr. Gunn’s service to the university also continued through his donation to the Jernigan Library of collections of Tennessee Williams literature and over 367 volumes of LGBT literature.
“Our university is the grateful beneficiary of Dr. Gunn’s generous spirit. A literary scholar, Dr. Gunn has donated portions of his book collection to our Jernigan Library and South Texas Archives. The gift we celebrate today also honors Dr. Gunn’s parents and reflects his passion and love for animals. This gift helps ensure that our Veterinary Technology program can continue to grow and provide our students with an excellent education. Through his gifts, Dr. Gunn has shown remarkable vision, and his legacy will continue to impact both language and literature and veterinary technology for years to come,” stated Dr. Mark A. Hussey, President of Texas A&M University-Kingsville.
Dr. Gunn’s substantial gift will establish the Jo and Bruce Gunn Endowed Fund, which will directly benefit the Veterinary Technology (Vet Tech) program in the Dick and Mary Lewis Kleberg College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Human Sciences at Texas A&M-Kingsville. A portrait and biographical profile will be permanently displayed in a venue within the Vet Tech program in their recognition.
Jo and Bruce Gunn, of Reidsville, North Carolina, were hugely influential in Dr. Gunn’s life, with him attributing his love of writing to his mother reading to him as a child. His father, Bruce, was a tobacco farmer and allowed Dr. Gunn to tend to delicate plants, which his family believes shaped his careful and disciplined attitude as a scholar.
“Dr. Gunn encouraged students to fearlessly pursue their passions. After spending time with the Veterinary Technology program and witnessing the joy and pride that our students felt toward their education, Dr. Gunn was able to bring two passions of his life together – this university and animals – through this tremendous gift. Our students will continue to be experts in their field, holding prominent positions nationwide post-graduation because of the trusted quality of our Veterinary Technology program, and we are indebted to Dr. Gunn for his undeniable role in providing those opportunities for our students,” stated Dr. Clayton D. Hilton, Jo and Bruce Gunn Endowed Director of Veterinary Technology at Texas A&M University-Kingsville.
Including this estate gift, With You. Without Limits. The Campaign for Texas A&M University-Kingsville exceeds more than 90% of its campaign goal of $100 million in private support. Many of those donors reflect Dr. Gunn’s generosity, with professors and staff participating. Their support fortifies the university’s future while highlighting the family ideal of Texas A&M University-Kingsville.
For more information about the impact of With You. Without Limits. or to learn how you can join in the effort and make a planned gift to the university, please visit our website here.