A $200,000 unrestricted physics endowment to the Louisiana Tech University College of Engineering and Science honors the life and legacy of Dr. Billy Edward Bonner, a two-time Louisiana Tech physics alumnus whose career carried him from North Louisiana to the forefront of global scientific discovery.
The endowment was established by Margaret “Margo” Bonner in memory of her late husband, who earned his bachelor’s degree in 1961 and master’s degree in 1963 in Physics from Louisiana Tech before completing a Ph.D. in High-Energy Physics at Rice University. The gift will provide flexible, long-term support for the Tech Physics program, strengthening student learning, research, and academic innovation.
Dr. Bonner’s path into physics was not a straight line, but it was decisively shaped at Louisiana Tech. He entered the University as an engineering major and was named Freshman Engineer of the Year, receiving a prized engineering textbook with the honor.
“He sold the book,” Margo said. “And he changed his major to physics.”
Encouraged by Louisiana Tech faculty, including physics professor Dr. George Paul Bonner (no relation), Dr. Bonner’s growing curiosity quickly became clear. Dr. George Bonner later recommended him to Dr. T. W. Bonner (also no relation) at Rice University for doctoral study.
Margo still summarizes the referral simply: “Bonner to Bonner, about Bonner.”
That recommendation launched a distinguished career. Dr. Billy Bonner conducted postdoctoral research in England and California, spent 13 years at Los Alamos National Laboratory, and held international appointments at the Rutherford High Energy Laboratory and CERN in Geneva, Switzerland, placing him among the world’s leading physicists during a transformative era for the field.
“Because of Bill, I’ve had dinner with eleven Nobel Prize winners,” Margo recalled. “Most notably, Dr. Peter Higgs, the physicist responsible for the discovery of the Higgs boson particle.”
Despite his global reach, Dr. Bonner remained deeply connected to Louisiana Tech.
“Bill always said he owed Louisiana Tech for launching his career,” Margo said. “Everything started there.”
In 1985, Dr. Bonner joined the faculty at Rice University, where he served as a professor, department chair, and longtime director of the T. W. Bonner Nuclear Laboratory. He was widely respected as a researcher and beloved as a teacher, known for mentoring advanced physics students while also teaching “physics for poets,” a course designed to make science accessible across disciplines.
The unrestricted nature of the Bonner endowment reflects both his intellectual breadth and his understanding of academic needs.
“This level of unrestricted funding allows us to update laboratory equipment and strengthen student recruitment efforts,” said Dr. Lee Sawyer, Academic Director of Physics and Chemistry. “Dr. Bonner understood the importance of flexible resources that support students, teaching, and research. This endowment reflects his professional insight and his lasting commitment to physics education.”