Oregon State University said Wednesday it has a $50 million commitment, the largest in the school's 150-year history, for the school's veterinary medicine college.

The university said the gift from Dr. Gary Carlson, a Southern California dermatologist who graduated from the Corvallis school in 1974, will allow it to double the size of its animal hospital and recruit and keep high-level faculty in the animal medicine field.

Oregon State said it also planned to rename the college in Carlson's honor, a decision it has not made for the other 10 academic colleges on campus. The school's website already referred to the program as the Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine.

"We are very honored and excited about Dr. Carlson's partnership," Susan Tornquist, the college's dean, said in a statement. "The hospital expansion is a pressing need for us now, but this is just the beginning of what Dr. Carlson's generosity will make possible as the college adapts and grows to meet the needs of future generations."

Carlson, 65, co-owns a dermatology practice in Westlake Village, California, a small town west of Los Angeles.

He was born and raised in Portland and attended Washington High School, then went on to earned his medical degree from what is now Oregon Health & Science University in 1978. He also attended UCLA.

Carlson said he made his money through "lucky" investments in stock such as Apple and real estate in Southern California. He had hoped to save enough money to make "one big donation" to a good cause and determined that his money could make the biggest impact in Corvallis.

'I thought it would mean a lot to Oregon State," Carlson said in an interview. "I believe in supporting public schools, I went to public schools."

Carlson also praised Tornquist, saying he just felt the money would benefit the program under her leadership.

According to Oregon State, the $50 million commitment is a "structured gift," with a portion to be provided "over a mutually agreed upon timeline" to help the university achieve various goals such as expanding its animal hospital. The rest would be received upon Carlson's death.

Carlson said he agreed to give "a significant amount" annually for 15 years, with the remainder to be given when he dies. He has no children.

Oregon State said it was the largest individual donation in the school's history. The school also received an anonymous $25 million gift in 2017 to help pay for a new arts complex. A separate $20 million gift is helping pay for the school's Marine Studies Initiative expansion in Newport.

According to a 2010 obituary in The Oregonian, businessman and philanthropist Al Reser donated at least $27.5 million to the school's academic and athletic programs before his death.

More than 20,000 animals, largely dogs and cats, have gone through the doors of Oregon State's teaching hospital since it opened in 2006. Vets throughout Oregon, northern California and western Washington refer animals to the hospital for treatment, OSU said in a statement.

The building is 6,000-square-feet, and Oregon State had planned an expansion of an additional 6,600-square-feet. The expansion plans also include remodeling spaces in Magruder Hall on campus to boost veterinary medicine class sizes from 56 to 72 students overall.

Expansion plans include adding exam rooms and kennels, and expanding the oncology treatment center to include radiation therapy for animals. "We understand there is no such technology equivalent in Oregon, northern California or southwestern Washington," Steve Clark, the vice president of university relations and marketing, said in a statement.

Oregon State circulated a picture of Carlson holding a white dog and said he was inspired by his love of canines. "As I began thinking about how I might make a difference in this world, I thought about those things that matter most to me," Carlson said in a statement provided by the school. "High on the list was the joy that our pets so often give us – a special comfort and support that allows us to embrace life more fully. I wanted to do something that would enrich that experience and help us better understand and care for our 'best friends.'"

The school did not immediately say whether it had concrete development plans for a new or expanded building as a result of the $50 million pledge.

Clark said the school had been discussing the gift for at least the past year.

Carlson said he has several dogs along with his girlfriend. One, a rescue Maltese named Sugar, comes to his office daily. "Everyone loves her," he said.



-- Andrew Theen

atheen@oregonian.com

503-294-4026

@andrewtheen