U. of Texas Donor Comes Forward After Giving $135-Million

The Dallas investor Peter O’Donnell Jr. has revealed himself to the Austin American-Statesman as the anonymous donor who has given the University of Texas more than $135-million since the 1980s to support high-tech research.

Focusing on the university’s Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences, Mr. O’Donnell, 86, has endowed scores of chairs, professorships, and graduate fellowships and financed research projects, usually offering a portion of the project cost to spur the university to seek matching grants.

He has eschewed formal recognition, with the exception of allowing a restaurant in the $32-million engineering and science building he donated to be called O’s Cafe and to serve a dish called Peter O’s Burger, the article said.