NEWS

Louisiana Tech graduate Tim Cutt, ’83-Petroleum Engineering, and his wife Carolyn recently donated $250,000 in honor of former Petroleum Engineering professor Dr. Robert Caruthers to assist in rebuilding the Lady Techster soccer complex, which was one of five Louisiana Tech Athletics facilities damaged or destroyed during the April 25 tornado.

Cutt, who was named a 2015 Distinguished Alumnus for the College of Engineering and Science, and his wife decided to honor his former professor by helping to rebuild and upgrade the facility for soccer.

“Dr. Caruthers was a humble leader who cared deeply for students at Louisiana Tech,” Cutt said. “He believed in me – seeing potential in my future that I didn’t recognize then – and offered consistent encouragement so that I could achieve that potential. Throughout my educational journey, he challenged me to greater leadership and involvement in class as well as with extracurricular activities.”

Caruthers made a profound impact on countless students, and his influence helped inspire Tech President Dr. Les Guice as well

“Dr. Caruthers helped inspire all of us in the College of Engineering and Science, and he made a great impact on thousands of students in the classroom and the lab,” Guice said. “By focusing their gift on the creation of athletics facilities that help our student-athletes attain the highest level of athletic and academic performance while bringing greater national visibility to our institution, Tim and Carolyn are honoring an important member of the Tech Family. Their leadership in this endeavor is a wonderful legacy for the whole campus.”

Caruthers was a long-time engineering professor at Tech, leading the University’s program in Petroleum Engineering and Geosciences. After serving Tech students for nearly 30 years, from 1967-95, he passed away Oct. 3, 2016.

Cutt said he and Carolyn saw a need on the Louisiana Tech campus, and they knew that Caruthers was the perfect individual to honor by helping rebuild “a facility that will inspire young women to exceed their personal goals in both sports and life.”

“The Cutts have provided a wonderful example of how our University connects athletics and academics,” said Brooks Hull, Tech’s Vice President for University Advancement. “Their leadership gift – given during Louisiana Tech’s 125th anniversary year – will help set the tone for rebuilding our facilities to honor current and former students, faculty, and staff.”

Demolition of the soccer complex began in early September.