A Legacy Etched in Stone and Spirit

Russ Pitman ’58 and His Enduring Legacy at Rice

By Kara Timberlake

Russ Pitman’s connection to Rice University spans seven decades — first as a student, then as a staff member and ultimately as one of the university’s most generous benefactors. Just two years after graduating with double majors in business administration and economics, he returned to campus to start a new chapter. His career at Rice began on July 1, 1960, the very day Rice Institute became Rice University. “I loved my jobs at Rice,” he says. “I had 20 wonderful years with no regrets. If you get a job on the Rice campus, take it. It’s a remarkable place.”

During his career at Rice, Russ held key roles, including chief accountant, assistant to the president under Norman Hackerman and manager of campus business affairs. Each position shaped not only his professional path but also his lifelong devotion to Rice.

“Assistant to the president was the best job around,” Russ recalls. “You can’t beat being at the seat of power.” During his tenure he witnessed the university’s evolution, from the founding of the School of Architecture to the establishment of the Shepherd School of Music and the Jones Graduate School of Business, all while forming relationships with university leaders he describes as deeply influential.

These connections laid the foundation for his extraordinary generosity. With no immediate family to inherit his wealth, Russ turned to Rice. He has thoughtfully employed various gift planning tools to provide immediate and future funding for special areas of interest across the university. Using charitable gift annuities alongside outright giving, charitable remainder trusts and bequest intentions in his will, he has crafted an inspiring model of philanthropy. Over the years, he has established more than 70 endowments — scholarships, travel grants, faculty support and named spaces that touch nearly every corner of campus. “Rice was good to me,” he says simply. “Rice is doing a good job. I want to support their mission.”

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Russ delights in supporting visually prominent spaces and buildings. The Pittman Tower at Brockman Hall for Opera and the Pitman Oculus, the distinctive structural element at the center of the Moody Center for the Arts, are just a couple of the many examples of his generosity on campus. “I like the physical stuff,” he says. “I like to pick something in each building.”

Russ is equally enthusiastic about creating opportunities for students. His travel grants, for example, send architecture and art history students across the globe. “I didn’t travel anywhere while I was in school,” he reflects. “It’s really good for them. I’m happy for them. It’s been a good investment.”

The Shepherd School of Music holds a special place in Russ' philanthropy. For Russ, the school is a vital bridge, bringing music, culture and opportunity to the city. He shares that “the Shepherd School has been a real and vital connection with the community.”

Ultimately, Russ' true passion has been honoring the people who shaped his life and career. “I’ve been setting up funds in the names of friends so that they’re remembered forevermore,” he explains. These named endowments serve as lasting legacies, ensuring that the contributions of colleagues, mentors and loved ones continue to inspire future generations. Whether it’s a scholarship in a friend’s name or a lecture series dedicated to a cherished colleague, each endowment is a story, a way of weaving personal memory into the fabric of the university.

Russ’ impact is visible everywhere: in classrooms and performance halls, in staircases and courtyards, in the experiences of students traveling abroad, mastering new languages, perfecting their art. Through decades of thoughtful generosity, Russ has given Rice more than named spaces and scholarship funds. He has given opportunity, legacy and community.