Indiana University in Bloomington has announced a $20 million estate gift from alumnus Lowell E. Baier to support upgrades and renovations at its Maurer School of Law.

In recognition of the multiyear gift, the law school building will be renamed Baier Hall, while the school's law library will be renamed the Jerome Hall Law Library in honor of the longtime IU law school professor. "Lowell Baier's extraordinary legacy gift provides tremendous support to the school," said law school dean Austen L. Parrish, the James H. Rudy Professor of Law. "His generosity will enable us to plan for a learning environment that matches the quality of our students' academic experience."

Baier received his B.A. in economics and political science from Valparaiso University in 1961 and his law degree from IU in 1964. While practicing law in Washington, D.C., he formed Baier Properties, Inc., a Bethesda-based real estate development company. A longtime conservationist, Baier is a co-founder of the Wild Sheep Foundation and led the Boone and Crockett Club's efforts to create Ph.D. programs at five universities dedicated to postgraduate studies in natural resources and wildlife conservation management. An advisor to elected officials on environmental and conservation issues, he led the drafting of President George H.W. Bush's wildlife conservation agenda in 1979 and has been an advisor and counselor to all successive presidential administrations.

"I am deeply honored by the opportunity to make this gift to the law school," said Baier. "In particular, I am pleased that the library will be renamed in honor of Professor Hall, whose teaching and mentoring were so crucial to my success as a student, and whose wisdom has continued to guide me throughout my career. This gift will ensure the continuing integrity of the law school building and the law library, its very soul, inspiring the best in academic and scholastic achievement. Remember, a sense of place creates a sense of purpose."