Tulsa Couple Makes $15 Million Donation

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -- A Tulsa couple makes a $15 million commitment for a new Life Sciences Research Center at the University of Oklahoma.<br/><br/>President David Boren will recommend to the OU board

Wednesday, February 21st 2007, 4:27 pm

By: News On 6

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -- A Tulsa couple makes a $15 million commitment for a new Life Sciences Research Center at the University of Oklahoma.

President David Boren will recommend to the OU board of Regents that the new building be named the Stephenson Life Sciences Research Center after Peggy and Charles Stephenson.

The new center will be modeled after the open, flexible space concept of the Stephenson Research and Technology Center.

The 152,000 square-foot facility will accommodate 30 research groups in the life sciences, who will work on projects ranging from the development of alternative energy sources to new therapies for diabetes, Alzheimers, cancer and other diseases.

The Stephensons grew up in Antlers, Oklahoma. Charles Stephenson is a 1959 OU petroleum engineering graduate who co-founded Vintage Petroleum.

Peggy Stephenson is executive director of the Stephenson Family Foundation, which provides support for various community programs.

To find out more about the Stephenson Research and Technology Center, logon to www.ou.edu.