KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Western Michigan University’s Haworth College of Business has received a $17 million gift from The Stan Lucas Trust, which school officials say will fund Experience-Driven Learning initiatives through hands-on opportunities, interdisciplinary collaboration and technological innovation.
“This generous gift positions the college to design impactful experiences that engage students in the types of active learning opportunities that give them the skills, confidence and knowledge to lead and thrive in a rapidly evolving global economy,” says Dr. Satish Deshpande, dean of the Haworth College of Business.
WMU graduate Dan Grady is co-trustee for The Stan Lucas Trust and helped guide the $17 million gift, which is the largest in the Haworth College of Business’s history. Lucas himself had no previous ties to Western.
“This extraordinary act of generosity to the Haworth College of Business is both humbling and inspiring,” says WMU President Russ Kavalhuna. “That someone with no direct ties to the University would choose to invest in students speaks volumes about the important role state and regional universities play in expanding opportunity. We are equally inspired by the generosity of Mr. Grady, whose own experience as a Bronco alumnus reinforces the power of WMU’s experience-driven education.”
A serial entrepreneur, the late Stan Lucas grew up on a farm in California, attending UC Berkeley and graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering. After graduation, he traveled to New Zealand, worked briefly in the defense industry, and taught physics and math at Pacific States University.
He had a variety of ventures throughout the years, from a coin laundry business to an antique mall. He started Lucas Automotive Engineering in 1957, making explosion whistles and steering wheels for early Fords. The company eventually manufactured hard-to-find tires for antique car collectors worldwide. Lucas’ team also specialized in acquiring and restoring steam-powered vehicles. The business was a perfect marriage of Lucas’ enterprising spirit and his personal passion for collecting planes, trains and automobiles.
In 1976, Lucas began acquiring industrial real estate in Southern California. He then expanded into the design, construction and management of multi-tenant buildings. Most recently, he began developing housing communities in northern Nevada, with plans to add 5,200 homes, roads and commercial buildings in the region.
Lucas passed away in January 2025.
Home to nearly 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students, the Haworth College of Business has 16 specialized majors and several graduate programs.
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