November 29, 2018 | UHCL Staff
Larry C. Johnson considers his time on campus to be among the most transformative years of his life and credits the professors who invested in him in the College of Business, as well as the student organizations that engaged him socially and challenged him academically, as the reasons for his professional success. His experience inspired him to ensure that the College of Business continues its trajectory of growth in the decades to come by naming it as the beneficiary of a transformative life insurance bequest.
Johnson began his college career at Texas A&M University at College Station, but it didn’t provide the academic setting he was looking for. “It was good for me to get to know a lot of people because I was the ‘quiet type’ in high school,” he said. “But academically, it wasn’t a good fit for me. I transferred into UHCL because I needed more direct interaction with faculty. Previously, I had only dealt with teaching assistants. I got lost in the numbers because for me, the school was too big. At UHCL, the relationships I was able to build with my professors helped me become successful.”
Since graduating with his bachelor of science in accounting in 1983, Johnson has volunteered his time, and offered his professional connections as well as his financial support to UH-Clear Lake.
“I’ve stayed very engaged with this effort because I appreciate what this university has done for the community,” Johnson said. “The level of academics offered at UHCL is equivalent to major well-known universities in the state.”
Johnson, who was president and CEO of Loomis International, Inc., a Pasadena-based oil and gas company from 1996-2016, has been a key advisor on the President’s Campaign Leadership Cabinet, and has served on the Accounting Advisory Board for 15 years. The CLC Board, which is comprised of a volunteer core of engaged, influential UHCL alumni, offers its time, financial support and professional connections to help UHCL connect with companies and organizations in the community and beyond, in an effort to reach its goal of raising $20 million by 2020 in the University of Houston System’s Here, We Go! campaign.
His bequest, he explained, is another way of giving. “We need to keep identifying and expanding the programs that industries need so that we are educating our workforce,” he said. “The College of Business has so many options with projects, internships and recruiting. I make this bequest now so that the university has time to start laying out the foundation and be prepared to use the money for its commitments when the time comes.”
He said the gift keeps the university connected with individuals to encourage them to stay engaged. “I have confidence in the university,” he said. “I hope this influences others who didn’t think of a life insurance bequest as a way to make a gift. There are many creative ways to help the university reach its campaign goals.”
University of Houston System’s Here, We Go! campaign goal is to raise $1 billion by 2020. UHCL has committed to raise $20 million of the System goal and is already halfway there.
Johnson said that financial support was helpful, but remaining engaged with the university is the key to its future. “It’s good to give money, but if we don’t interact, the university can’t keep moving in the right direction,” he said. “It’s been important to me to keep connected to the university because I wanted to prove I could give back to it, and because I want to watch it grow. A lot of students in the area don’t get to go away to college, and that’s one reason why UHCL is a great place. So many UHCL graduates hire into excellent accounting positions. It’s one of UHCL’s strongest programs.”
Learn more about how to give back to UHCL at www.uhcl.edu/giving. To learn more about UHCL’s accounting degree program at www.uhcl.edu/academics/degrees/accounting-bs.
