Bill Lowrie Wins University Distinguished Service Award

We are thrilled to announce that William G. Lowrie has received The Ohio State University Distinguished Service Award. Established in 1952 by the Board of Trustees, the award recognizes individuals who have rendered exceptional and truly distinguished service to the university.

Bill got his start at The Ohio State University in chemical engineering and was inspired by courses in the petroleum engineering option, which were led by Slip Slider. Encouraged by Professor Slider, Bill started his career with Standard Oil of Ohio, which was renamed Amoco in 1985, and eventually became CEO.  

Lowrie’s truly distinguished service to Ohio State is the manifestation of the loyalty he came to feel for his department and alma mater. Lowrie vowed to ‘give back’ to others in the way he felt he had received, and he kept his word through the delivery of services he has given this institution and the department of chemical engineering in particular, despite living a considerable distance from campus and balancing a demanding career as CEO of a major multinational corporation. His extensive service, involvement, and support of the chemical engineering department led to it becoming the first named department on The Ohio State University campus. The William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical Engineering has been strengthened enormously as a result of his involvement.

Lowrie’s service to chemical engineering began in 1980 as a charter member of the Chemical Engineering Advisory Committee, which he chaired from 1990-98.The committee provided counsel to faculty and aided the department in developing a strategic plan, as well as the beginnings of a fundraising plan. He also provided valuable input as a member of the department’s Chair Search Committee in 1994.

Lowrie was also an active member of the Dean’s Advisory Council (1990-98). He joined the OSU Foundation board in 1997 and was chair from 2001-04. He co-chaired the National Major Gift Committee for Chicago during the Affirm Thy Friendship Campaign. When daughter Kristen was a senior at Ohio State, Bill and wife Ernestine served a successful term as co-chairs of the Ohio State Parents Program.

He became even more involved with the department of chemical engineering in 2004 when he agreed to chair the National Committee for the New Koffolt Laboratories. In chairing the committee, Lowrie has mobilized other alumni and rallies the troops behind the scenes, engaging in numerous conversations with other alumni and committee members on behalf of the department.

His service has been recognized previously with the College of Engineering Distinguished Alumnus Award (1975), the Texnikoi Outstanding Alumnus Award (1979), and, in 1992, the Benjamin G. Lamme Gold Medal -- the College of Engineering’s highest honor. At the time, Lowrie was the only COE alumnus to receive all three awards. He also received the COE Meritorious Service Citation (2002).

Lowrie’s dedicated service has also been recognized with The Ohio State University Everett D. Reese Medal (2004) and the Alumni Association Alumni Medalist Award, which he received in 2008 for achieving international distinction that brings extraordinary credit to the university and significant benefit to humankind.

Currently, Lowrie chairs the OSU Foundation Board Campaign Coordinating Committee and is also a member of the Steering Committee.