The largest private donation in Lethbridge College history, $3.1 million, was announced today on the college campus.
The late Lloyd and Dorothy Mueller provided the gift, which will be used to establish the Mueller Program in Irrigation and the college’s first fully funded research chair in irrigation science.
College president Paula Burns announced the institution will supplement the donation with an additional $1.9 million, bringing the total for the new program to $5 million.
Burns said the donation was a transformational gift that will ensure a continued focus on high quality agricultural education.
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The Mueller family has its roots in a farm north of Warner, Alta. Lloyd was one of 10 children who grew up on the farm, but after serving in the air force during the Second World War, he moved to Lethbridge and managed several businesses as well as stock trading, from which he gained most of his financial success.
Dorothy Mueller worked in administration at St. Michael’s hospital in Lethbridge for 35 years.
Married for 55 years, the couple had no children. Lloyd died in 2009 and Dorothy in 2013.
Their nephew, Michael Mueller, said his aunt and uncle wanted their donation directed to the faculty of agriculture at the college, and the college itself identified the irrigation program as a worthy beneficiary.
“My uncle and aunt wanted to find a way to advance the pursuit of knowledge through their legacy. They wanted to offer a benefit and make this available to as many people as possible and they felt a gift to Lethbridge College is the best way to do that,” Michael Mueller said.
Southern Alberta has 67 percent of all irrigated land in Canada, making it a logical choice for irrigation programs, said Burns.
She said the Mueller donation is the second pillar in a campaign to raise $25 million from the private sector for a variety of college projects.
The first pillar was formed by another donation earlier this year from Cor Van Raay, from which a southern Alberta agribusiness program was established between the college and the University of Lethbridge.
