On Wednesday, the Chapman University School of Law made a special announcement on its website and informed students and faculty that the school had received a $55 million gift to endow and rename the school. The gift, which the law school reported as the second largest reported gift to any law school in the United States was made by well-known real estate developer Dale E. Fowler and his wife Sarah Ann.
The school announced that “The law school will be named “The Dale E. Fowler School of Law.” A special ribbon-cutting event will take place September 10 to commemorate the naming, featuring keynote speaker former Secretary of State George Schultz.”
Fowler made most of his fortune in real estate development in and around Orange County, California, in the same region as the law school.
Though Fowler is not study at the law school, he is an alumnus of the Chapman University. Both of his children are also graduates of Chapman University.
Fowler said, “As a Chapman alumnus, I’m honored to be able to have an impact on generations of students to come … We are enthusiastic about the law school’s commitment to creating a positive atmosphere for business in all its realms of influence.”
Fowler also mentioned that his family was proud that his son Jeffrey and daughter Kathryn are graduates of Chapman University.
Tom Campbell, the deal of Chapman University School of Law said, “This is one of the greatest gifts to any law school in the history of the United States; our best research has determined that this is the second largest reported single gift to an American law school.”
Campbell further added, “Because of the exceptional generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Fowler, we can now make long-term plans for how we will continue to provide top quality legal education many years into the future.”