TUSCALOOSA — The University of Alabama has named the College of Engineering in honor of Lee J. Styslinger Jr., following a $25 million gift commitment from his wife, Catherine Styslinger.
The UA System Board of Trustees approved the gift and the College’s naming at its meeting last Friday.
The Lee J. Styslinger Jr. College of Engineering enrolls more than 5,500 students across seven departments, offering 14 undergraduate degree programs and 16 graduate degree programs. Styslinger is the third college on UA’s campus to be named, joining the Hugh F. Culverhouse College of Business and the J. Frank Barefield Jr. College of Arts & Sciences, announced this year.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Styslinger family for investing in our students’ future,” UA President Peter J. Mohler said. “This transformational gift empowers the College of Engineering to think bigger through education, research and innovation. Our graduates will turn knowledge into impact as they lead solutions to critical challenges in energy, manufacturing, space, mobility, data and AI — and this is only the beginning.”
The support from the Styslinger family provides the college with a fully discretionary endowment to position UA at the forefront of engineering and computer science, expanding its reach and ability to make lasting contributions for the state and beyond by:
- Strengthening the College’s research enterprise and attracting preeminent faculty
- Responding to emerging opportunities and innovating boldly
- Creating transformative experiences for UA engineering students
“The power of this endowment lies in its flexibility,” said Dr. Clifford L. Henderson, dean of the Styslinger College of Engineering. “With discretionary resources of this scale, we can respond quickly to opportunities, enhance the student experience, recruit outstanding faculty and so much more.
“It positions us for immediate impact while giving us the means to invest strategically in the future.”
Styslinger, who died in 2021, was born in Birmingham in 1933 and pursued a degree in mechanical engineering at UA before leaving at age 19 to take over management of the Birmingham-based Alabama Truck Equipment Company after his father and the company’s founder died.
“Lee was a humble man, but he would be so proud to know the college was being honored in his name,” Catherine Styslinger said. “He would have wanted other students to have the education that he received there.”
Now known as Altec, the company became a worldwide leader in providing equipment and services to the electric utility, telecommunications and tree care industries under Styslinger’s leadership.
“I’ve never seen a more determined guy than he was,” Catherine Styslinger said. “Once he said he was going to do something, he did it. And he never gave up. He had a strong determination and character.”
Styslinger’s commitment to service and philanthropy was a cornerstone of his life. In 1997, he and his wife established the Altec/Styslinger Foundation, focusing on education and workforce development in the communities served by Altec.
Additionally, Styslinger served on leadership boards for various non-profit organizations, including Highlands Day School, Children’s Harbor, Junior Achievement of Greater Birmingham, St. Vincent’s Hospital and the American National Red Cross.
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