OSU hosts Dr. William S. Spears to celebrate 20 years of Spears School of Business name
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Media Contact: Stephen Howard | Director, Marketing and Communications | 405-744-4363 | stephen.howard@okstate.edu
Dr. William S. Spears returned to Oklahoma State University and saw the enduring impact of his gift.
Two decades after his historic contribution, the Spears School of Business has record enrollment, a state-of-the-art building and support from donors who follow his example.
The Cowboy family welcomed Dr. Spears with a celebration when he and his wife, Candye, visited his alma mater Nov. 13 on the business school naming’s 20th anniversary.
“Candye and I call it giving while living,” Dr. Spears said. “I believe that generosity and philanthropy are contagious.”
In November 2004, Dr. Spears provided the business school with what was then the largest academic gift in OSU history, and the university renamed the College of Business Administration to the William S. Spears School of Business to honor him. In 2009, the name was shortened to Spears School of Business.
OSU business students know his name, and at the anniversary celebration, they had a unique opportunity to meet him during a question-and-answer session.
Dr. Spears founded Dallas-based energy conservation company Cenergistic in 1986.founded Dallas-based energy conservation company Cenergistic in 1986.
Born in Tulsa and raised in Lubbock, Texas, he is the 14th member of his family to attend OSU. A member of Sigma Nu fraternity, he graduated in 1962 with his bachelor’s degree in marketing.
Dr. Spears has cited his OSU education as a driving force behind his business success. His award-winning company partners with school districts and other clients to decrease energy consumption, therefore saving billions of dollars on utilities.
“Everything in the business world has changed in 62 years,” Dr. Spears said. “The reason that I’m so proud of my business education is it has prepared me for that change.”
Dr. Spears also holds a Master of Business Administration from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and a doctorate in business administration from Wayne Huizenga Graduate School of Business and Entrepreneurship at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Throughout his career, Dr. Spears has taken an interest in philanthropy and served on multiple educational boards. OSU has honored him in the Spears Business Hall of Fame, the “Spears School Tributes: 100 For 100” and the OSU Alumni Association Hall of Fame.
Dr. Spears’ gift catalyzed tremendous growth in the business school. This past fall, Spears Business enrollment skyrocketed to a record 6,582 undergraduate and graduate students.
Spears Business opened a new building and multiple centers, increased its number of faculty, expanded its degree programs and added two departments: the School of Entrepreneurship and the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management.
“Dr. Spears’ support 20 years ago has certainly been a worthwhile investment in the future of the business school and laid the foundation for the excellence of our programs and the opportunities afforded to our students in preparing them as the next generation of business leaders,” said Dr. James Payne, Spears Business dean. “On behalf of the students, faculty and staff, I want to say thank you."