Henry P Conn

In January 2009, Hank Conn, a University of Louisville graduate, and his wife Rebecca pledged an extraordinary $20 million to the University of Louisville. The Conns’ gift, which has been touted as the largest individual donation ever to a public university in Kentucky, will fund the start-up of a research center focused on developing alternative energy technologies such as solar power, wind and biofuels. The center will be called the Conn Center for Renewable Energy and Research and Environmental Stewardship. “Our vision of the center is to establish a place where the science, the research, can take place, regardless of whether there is a market yet for such technologies,” Conn said. “Otherwise, when gas is $6 a gallon, everybody will stand around and say, ‘Now what will we do?’” University of Louisville President, James Ramsey said he envisions the center becoming a top-notch research facility in the country. Hank says he owes a great debt of gratitude to UofL, where he did his bachelor’s at the Speed School of Engineering as well as receiving his MBA and Masters in Engineering in the 1960s and 1970s. “Hank is very committed to Speed," said Rebecca Conn, “and it’s our great privilege to be part of this new center for renewable energy and environmental stewardship.” Mickey Wilhelm, dean of the Speed School, said “Hank liked to call this his ‘big idea’. He wanted to do something that would have a lasting impact on society.” Hank is a member of the Speed School’s Industrial Board of Advisors. He and Rebecca also established the Rebecca L. and Henry P. Conn Graduate Fellowship to support graduate fellowships in the Speed School.