$500,000 Gift from Dan and Larry Anne Hereford to Support Engineering Center of Excellence

The College of Engineering is excited to announce that Richard “Dan” Hereford (ME ’69) and his wife, Larry Ann, have made a transformative $500,000 gift to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s College of Engineering in support of the Engineering Center of Excellence (ECoE). Their generosity will help prepare students to meet workforce demands, drive innovation, and enhance the overall student experience.

Both Dan and Larry Anne are proud natives of Southwest Louisiana. Dan, a Sulphur High School graduate, earned his degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Southwestern Louisiana (USL) in 1969 and completed his distinguished career in aerospace and defense. Larry Ann, a Lake Charles High School graduate, later received her degree in business management from Barry University in Miami, Florida, and built a successful career in human resources.

The Herefords’ investment will support the development of the Engineering Center of Excellence (ECoE), a bold initiative designed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world leadership. Students will gain opportunities to connect, create, and collaborate across disciplines, equipping them with the leadership and problem-solving skills needed to thrive in their careers.

“It is an honor to support Dean Khattab’s vision for the College of Engineering and the Engineering Center of Excellence,” said Dan Hereford. “ECoE is designed to give students a broader scope of how engineering fits into the scientific community, with an emphasis on project and people management. Over the course of my career, I saw top-notch engineers promoted into leadership roles where they struggled, not because of technical ability, but because they lacked management skills. This initiative will give UL’s engineering graduates a unique advantage.”

The Herefords’ contribution also honors the legacy of Dan’s parents, Drew Dow and Bertha Mae Etie Hereford, whose sacrifices made his education possible. “We credit our success to them,” said Dan. “This gift honors their legacy, while helping ensure future generations of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette engineers are prepared for meaningful and impactful careers. We encourage fellow alumni to join us in supporting the Dean’s vision and advancing engineering education, research, and workforce development.”

“We are deeply grateful to Dan and Larry Ann Hereford for this generous gift. As a proud alum with a distinguished career, Dan knows how vital it is to prepare engineers to lead and innovate. Their support will help us shape the next generation of leaders and ensure the university remains at the forefront of engineering education,” said Dr. Ahmed Khattab, Dean of the College of Engineering.

About Dan and Larry Ann Hereford

Dan’s career began with Pratt & Whitney Aircraft (now Pratt & Whitney, a division of Raytheon Technologies Corporation) as a jet engine design engineer. He contributed to projects including the F-100 engine, which powers the F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon, the RL-10 booster rocket engine used in NASA missions, and the Airborne Laser Lab, a national defense initiative under President Reagan.

After a decade in engineering roles, Dan transitioned into engineering/marketing, serving as a liaison between Pratt & Whitney and General Dynamics on the F-16 program. He later worked with Lockheed Fort Worth’s propulsion team on the F-22 Raptor fighter program before retiring.

Larry Ann began her career at Pratt & Whitney’s Florida Research and Development Center, later moving into a management position in human resources with Mostek Microelectronics, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation.

In 1998, the couple retired to their lake home in Northeast Texas, where they now enjoy traveling, sailing, fishing, and golfing.

Pictured from left to right: Ms. Larry Ann Hereford, Dean Ahmed Khattab, and Mr. Dan Hereford.  Photo credit: University of Louisiana at Lafayette