Arkansas Tech University in Russellville has announced a $6 million commitment from Laurie and James Bibler.

The estate gift — the largest pledge from an individual or couple in the university's 111-year history — will be earmarked to two funds at the Arkansas Tech University Foundation — a James and Laurie Bibler Scholarship fund and the University's Greatest Need fund. The couple's previous support for ATU includes a gift that helped fund construction of Hindsman Tower.

James Bibler studied business administration at ATU for two years before going to work for his father's lumber business, Bibler Brothers, and rising through the ranks to become president of the company in 1967 at the age of 33. In 1998, Bibler sold 90 percent of the company to Freeman Brothers, which was bought by Canadian timber company West Fraser in 2014. Over the years, he has served as a member of the ATU College of Business advisory board as well as several forestry industry boards and associations.

"I used to go to these national board meetings for the forestry industry," said Bibler. "I'd be sitting around a table with people who graduated from Harvard or Yale, and they'd ask me where I went to school. I told them I went to Arkansas Tech for two years, and then I went to the school of hard knocks."

"It gives us great pleasure to be able to offer scholarships to young adults who have a desire to further their education but do not have the means to do so," said Laurie Bibler, who serves on the ATU Foundation board. "James and I realize that education is so important to young adults. If they are not given the opportunity for postsecondary study, they risk being left behind....We also want to encourage others to give in support of Arkansas Tech. If we can provide a college education for even just one person and that person goes out and succeeds to their fullest, think about the impact that they will make. It is important to give back from what we have been given. We hope that others are inspired to include Arkansas Tech in their estate plans."

(Photo credit: Arkansas Tech University)