Louisiana Tech University’s College of Engineering and Science has received a legacy gift of more than $180,000 to benefit electrical engineering student scholarships.

Through a planned gift, innovator, author, and beloved professor Harvey Cragon, and his wife, Henrietta, designated a portion of their estate to transform the educational experience of Tech students.

“Harvey’s education at Louisiana Tech prepared him for a remarkable lifetime of innovation,” said Dr. Hisham Hegab, dean of the College of Engineering and Science. “The Cragons’ generous decision to pass those same opportunities along to future Bulldogs reveals their commitment, loyalty, and caring, and we are honored that Harvey and Henrietta’s legacy will continue through the lives and work of electrical engineering students for generations to come.”

After graduating from Tech in 1950 with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Cragon married Henrietta Herbert and began a career that included work in the telecommunications and military industries. He spent 25 years with Texas Instruments (TI) developing processors for a variety of applications including the first digital computer and similar digital processing units for use on rockets.

“During his time at TI, Harvey’s work with signal processors had a significant impact on the industry,” said Hegab. “His innovative work set the tone for future developments.”

Cragon was named the Ernest Cockrell Jr. Centennial Chair in Engineering in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Texas – Austin, where he served the department for 15 years and was named Professor Emeritus upon his retirement.

In 2007, the COES recognized Cragon as its Distinguished Alumnus of the Year. He received the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ (IEEE) Emanuel R. Piore Award for creative contributions and leadership in uniting computer architecture with the inherent capabilities of the integrated circuit. Cragon was a Life Fellow of the IEEE, a member of the National Academy of Engineering and Charles Babbage Institute, and a fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery.

For more information on planned giving, visit latechalumni.org.