Dr. Samuel J. Marcy

Donor Feature

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Sometimes, the estate gifts that come to the University of Wyoming are a total surprise. One such gift was the estate of Sam Marcy, which was managed by his brother Dewey. It supports three of the things Sam loved— engineering, innovation, and students. “Sam was always interested in what the students were doing and became actively involved by suggesting several possible senior design projects (at UW),” Dewey says. The funds will support excellence in the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, scholarships for students in the new construction management degree, and the new Blockchain Center of Excellence.

The Marcys’ grandfather homesteaded in Lander, Wyoming, but Sam and Dewey grew up in Nebraska. Sam ranched near Wheatland and lived in Cheyenne for many years. Although he was very humble and frugal, Sam was a man of many talents. He earned a Ph.D. in civil engineering, although not from UW, and he worked with UW’s Dr. Scott Morton to develop a binocular patent. Prior to that, he had served as an engineer in the U.S. Army and worked on the Apollo space mission. He was a keen investor who built a successful stock portfolio and was interested in emerging technologies. Dewey is an agriculture engineer and holds a number of patents, including the gooseneck hitch for his business, Quick Hitch, which was founded in 1994.

Frugality was a common trait in the Marcy family, as their parents lived through the Great Depression and learned to never waste anything and to live within their means. Wyoming’s university is so grateful that students are now able to benefit from Sam’s dedication and hard work.  

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