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Ex-professor leaves the keys to his house Property amounts to $600,000 gift By Sara Murphy ASHLAND � A retired psychology professor who lived in Ashland less than a year didn�t care much for Southern Oregon�s chilly winters, but he did care about Southern Oregon University � and gave the SOU Foundation his house. Doug Lowe, a professor emeritus from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, donated his Thornton Way home � hilltop property valued at more than $600,000 � to the SOU Foundation, the university announced Wednesday. "This is a very, very generous gift," said Bill Eckart, foundation marketing director. "This would put (Lowe) in what we would call the �top tier� of gift givers, historically." Sale of the property is pending, said Alice Geankoplis, foundation development associate. Funds from the sale will be earmarked for the General Endowment Fund, an unrestricted fund that provides revenue for university priorities. Lowe moved to Ashland earlier this year after visiting his last doctoral student, Paul Murray, an SOU psychology professor. He has since moved back to the South. "He decided it was too cold and dark," said Lani Fujitsubo, an SOU psychology professor who knew Lowe. Fujitsubo described Lowe as a private and humble man who "feels very strongly about higher education." In addition to SOU, Lowe has contributed to other educational institutions, officials said. "It was amazing that he would do this," Fujitsubo said. "He has no children, so this is his legacy." Eckart said it�s not uncommon for people with seemingly little connection to a university to donate time or money to the school. "Interestingly, some of the most generous donors to this university are not alumni or residents of the Rogue Valley," he said. "People who may not even know Southern Oregon University in particular recognize something about higher education and what it gives to the community," Eckart added. "It�s always surprising to me, the spirit of philanthropy." Reach Ashland bureau reporter Sara Murphy at 482-4655, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.