Dr. Andrew Suttle, photo courtesy of Dr. Sam Suttle
Article courtesy of Center Times
by Leah Tieger
Endowing the Future
Andrew D. Suttle Jr., Ph.D., dedicated his life and legacy to innovation in science and medicine. As a longtime supporter and friend of UT Southwestern Medical Center and Southwestern Medical Foundation, Dr. Suttle established multiple gifts and annuity contributions, conferring nearly $8 million to advance basic sciences at UT Southwestern.
He passed away in Dallas in 2015 and is fondly remembered by friends, family, and many former students whom he mentored. Because Dr. Suttle wanted his estate to further development in research and knowledge, he joined The Heritage Society and committed half of his estate to Southwestern Medical Foundation.
Dr. Suttle has left an extraordinary legacy by creating an endowment that will inspire the next generations of scientists to hone their scientific curiosity. Scientific progress depends on training and encouraging new researchers in discovery. We are deeply grateful for his generous bequest that will continue his commitment to helping young scientists.
Dr. Daniel K. Podolsky, President of UT Southwestern Medical Center
History
Dr. Suttle was born Aug. 12, 1926, in West Point, Mississippi, to a family dedicated to charitable giving and scientific inquiry. He earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry and mathematics at Mississippi State University at age 18. He was awarded his doctorate in radiochemistry and nuclear physics from the University of Chicago. While he held several important positions in both the private and public sectors, his true calling centered on research and education.
He joined the faculty at Texas A&M University in 1962, serving as Vice President for Research and Professor of Chemistry. During his tenure, Dr. Suttle built Texas A&M’s variable energy cyclotron, a particle accelerator that has allowed for research across multiple disciplines, including nuclear medicine, materials science, and space science. Remarkably, Dr. Suttle went on to build three more cyclotrons during his career. Following his success at Texas A&M, he joined the faculty at the University of Texas Marine Biomedical Institute at Galveston, dedicating the next 20 years of his life to research in magnetic imaging.
Friendships in Philanthropy
During his career, Dr. Suttle became a close friend of philanthropist Cecil H. Green. Both men were community leaders and visionaries who encouraged and enabled innovation. Mr. Green was a co-founder of Texas Instruments, a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a committed and prolific supporter of Southwestern Medical Foundation. His influence led Dr. Suttle to an understanding of the quality of basic science research at UT Southwestern.
Dr. Suttle’s giving is a testament to his generosity and his great wish to invest in the future. Dr. Suttle understood the need for philanthropic support to recruit and fund young scientists who could advance progress, and we are truly honored to steward his vision.
Kathleen Gibson, President and CEO, Southwestern Medical Foundation
Dr. Podolsky holds the Philip O’Bryan Montgomery, Jr., M.D. Distinguished Presidential Chair in Academic Administration, and the Doris and Bryan Wildenthal Distinguished Chair in Medical Science.