Joe B. Bourne '81
SU major: Business Administration, Management
Career: Chase Bank, Vice President in Capital Markets—Taxable Securities Trading
Future Gift Impact: Endowed Chairs in Business, Economics, English and Fine Arts
Joe B. Bourne ’81 chose to attend Southwestern because he didn’t want to be “just a face in the crowd in a sea of students.” However, his family also had a rich history with the university. An aunt had attended Southwestern in the early 1940’s, and Joe’s sister attended SU in the 1970’s. Additionally, a great-uncle and aunt became SU benefactors after their minister from St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, Dr. Durwood Fleming, became the university’s 12th president. Joe recalls his great-uncle pulling him aside at a family function to advise him that Southwestern would be a “wise choice” and be given full consideration for attendance. Finding the advice reassuring, Joe made his decision. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Management and a minor in Economics. He also participated in Student Union, and Phi Mu serving as a sorority Big Brother.
Joe says that he loved Southwestern so much that he stayed for summer school sessions, which helped him complete his graduation requirements early, and gave him opportunities to enjoy swimming at the Blue Hole, the Student Union and Karl’s famous cinnamon rolls, Phi Delt study breaks, and “rolling” with friends. Those life-long friendships he developed on the campus remain his most prized memories.
He also shares that “the beauty of attending Southwestern for one’s higher education is that the University (with its Liberal Arts approach) doesn’t just teach one WHAT to think; it teaches one HOW to think.”
Joe has planned for his estate gift to endow chairs in some of the departments that comprised his favorite classes. Because he knows that “not everyone may be as fortunate to be given the opportunity for the type of education Southwestern offers”, he additionally elected to create an endowed, merit-based scholarship fund as part of his estate gift. He encourages alumni to speak to their financial advisor, attorney, or CPA about an estate gift. Joe says, “Giving when you can is a beautiful and personally rewarding thing, and may just be easier and more financially advantageous than you might anticipate.”
Interested in learning more about how to include Southwestern University in your will, trust or retirement plan? Contact the Development Office at 512-863-1211 to learn about gift options and opportunities.
If you have already named Southwestern University as a beneficiary, please let us know of your plans. This will enable us to show our appreciation of your generosity, and to include your support in planning for the future of Southwestern.
Information contained herein was accurate at the time of posting. The information on this website is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney or tax advisor. Figures cited in any examples are for illustrative purposes only. References to tax rates include federal taxes only and are subject to change. State law may further impact your individual results. California residents: Annuities are subject to regulation by the State of California. Payments under such agreements, however, are not protected or otherwise guaranteed by any government agency or the California Life and Health Insurance Guarantee Association. Oklahoma residents: A charitable gift annuity is not regulated by the Oklahoma Insurance Department and is not protected by a guaranty association affiliated with the Oklahoma Insurance Department. South Dakota residents: Charitable gift annuities are not regulated by and are not under the jurisdiction of the South Dakota Division of Insurance.