In 1938, Burton Gray came to college with $50 in his pocket.

He worked his way through college to pay for his education, and graduated in 1943 with a doctorate in veterinary medicine.

“He had at least three jobs to get through school,” said Gertrude Gray, Burton’s wife. “Even then, he sent money home to his parents because they were really poor. He really struggled.”

The Grays have made a deferred gift through Iowa State’s “Investing In People” initiative, to create an endowed faculty chair in the College of Veterinary Medicine.

The couple is giving back to the school where they met and fell in love in the 1940s.

Burton and Gertrude met through mutual friends in their final years at Iowa State, and after Gertrude graduated in 1944, they were married. July 1 will mark 58 years of marriage for the couple.

“[Iowa State] was a very innocent school then,” Gertrude said.

Burton Gray graduated from college and went into business. When he was 34, he became the president of Fort Dodge Laboratories.

“He’s a born leader. He was active in all civil affairs from Boy Scouts to the church,” Gertrude said.

Burton and Gertrude Gray, now retired in Carefree, Ariz., are 81 and 82 years old, respectively. The couple has four children, two of which graduated from Iowa State.

Gertrude got her master’s in early childhood education when she was 50. “Now I tutor and work with the school system and play in the choir. I play 18 holes of golf and played tennis for 50 years.”

The Grays decided to make a gift of at least $1 million to the College of Veterinary Medicine.

In addition to the endowed faculty chair in the veterinary medicine college, the Grays have donated to the university throughout the years.

“This is something the Grays are thrilled to do,” said Monica Porter, director of development for the ISU Foundation. “Dr. Gray literally came to Iowa State with little money in his pocket and he credits his financial success in life with Iowa State.”

“We just think that Iowa State University is one of the finest schools. It has one of the most beautiful campuses we’ve ever seen,” Gertrude said.

“Four of my happiest years of my life, I spent in college.”

“They are thrilled to give back to the university what the university gave to them,” Porter said.

The gift will help support a faculty member. The chair holder will decide how the money will be allocated.

“It will help the college in getting and retaining top-quality faculty. It gives additional financial support to assist them in their work,” Porter said.

The university will receive the money upon the death of Gertrude Gray.

“What this does is it allows professors to be hired to be assigned to the task of carrying out our wishes,” Gertrude said. “It is a tremendous tribute to the man who is chosen.”

The couple would like the money to be used for further research in food production, sanitation or possibly anti-terrorism efforts.

“We’ve had a very interesting life. My husband has been so successful and has made a huge mark,” Gertrude said.

“He has left a legacy, a real tribute to his efforts.”