I will always appreciate what WVU did for me,said Lawrence Hays41.For one thing, when I enrolled in the fall of 1938, I talked to the dean of admissions about holding my postdated tuition check until November, and he agreed. The dean even told me to remind him when it was time to take my check out of the safe.

The deans trust was well-placed. After graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering, Lawrence Hays went on to enjoy a career that involved both improving the safety of millions of automobile passengers and helping astronauts during a lunar landing.

Career positions with Northrop Grumman and the Eaton Corporation spanned a wide variety of projects. Through his work, he saw the results of the first real-world auto accident where the vehicle was equipped with an airbag, and he realized what a lifesaver the device was going to be.

Hays also was involved with testing the hoist systems for NASA s Apollo Lunar Lander and return vehicle that helped put two American astronauts on the moon and bring them safely home. He worked on the design of the Mark 48 torpedo for the US Navy, the Orbiting Geophysical Observatory, and the Bomarc antimissile system. He also edited two technical books on control reliability published by Prentice Hall.

WVU was good to me,said Hays, who grew up in South Charleston, West Virginia.I liked everything about WVU .His years at the University are fondly recalled. With a chuckle, hell tell you about waiting tables for three years in Womens Hall (now Stalnaker Hall) to earn his way through school and graduate debt-free.

He was also in the ROTC Program, and after graduating, he was called into the US Army as a lieutenant. Hays served with the First Armored Division in North Africa and Italy and was awarded three battle stars.

Playing golf, taking photographs, and writing poetry keep him very active at age 89. He still loves to travel, especially to visit his favorite state parks in West Virginia.

His recent choice to create an income-producing gift with the WVU Foundation stemmed from his loyalty to WVU . The special gift arrangement provides assured retirement income, an income tax deduction, and a way to leave a legacy for his alma mater.I donated some stocks,he said.It was a good choice to help with my living expenses.

During his senior year at WVU , he received a scholarship for participation in a research program. Knowing firsthand the value of scholarship support, he has specified that the funds that remain from his income-producing gift will create a scholarship for future mechanical engineering majors.

I want to help others coming to WVU ,he said.My years there shaped me in important ways. Giving back now feels good.

For more features from the WVU Alumni Magazine, visithttp://alumni.wvu.edu/publications/alumni_magazine