KILGORE, Texas — One of the wealthiest people in America, who just happens to be an East Texan, gifted $500,000 to Kilgore College to improve the school’s information technology infrastructure.
White Oak native, KC alumnus and self-made billionaire Kelcy Warren donated the money which will allow the college to provide state-of-the-art technology services to students and faculty.
More specifically, the funds will be used to upgrade KC’s wireless networking, allowing students to access the latest in education materials and drastically increase wireless speeds across their campuses.
The gift will also allow students to easily access Open Educational Resources that will help reduce the cost of textbooks.
“Mr. Warren’s gift is an amazing start to 2019 and will directly improve student success as KC moves forward with its strategic plan to build an unprecedented learning platform,” said Michael Hageloh, chief development officer at KC. “Through the generosity of alumni such as Kelcy Warren, and others, we anticipate for KC to lead the way in 2019.”
Warren, 63, is a graduate of White Oak High School Kilgore College and UT Arlington.
He co-founded the pipeline company Energy Transfer with Texas Rangers co-owner Ray C. Davis in 1995.
In March 2017, following an executive order by President Donald Trump, Energy Transfer Partners finished building the 1,172-mile Dakota Access Pipeline. The company says the pipeline can transport up to half-a-million barrels of oil a day.
A music fan, Warren also produces albums for singer-songwriters at his Austin-based music studio, Music Road Records.
Since 2007, he has also hosted the Cherokee Music Festival which is an annual non-profit event to raise money for children's charities.
According to the most recent Forbes 400 List, which identifies the wealthiest people in the United States, Warren came in at No. 136 with a net worth of $4.9 billion.
