This fund was established by Don Fuqua in 2007 for the purpose of supporting teaching, research and programs in the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program at the Department of History in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Mr. Fuqua was president of the Aerospace Industries Association of America, Inc., a major American trade association, from 1987 until his retirement in 1998. Previously, Mr. Fuqua served 24 years in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was elected chairman of the House Science and Technology Committee in 1979 and served as chairman until his retirement from Congress in 1987. From 1958 to 1962, Mr. Fuqua was a member of the Florida House of Representatives. He is a member of Florida Blue Key, Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity, Gamma Sigma Delta and Delta Theta Phi. Mr. Fuqua served as a regional campaign chairman during UF’s Embrace Excellence campaign and has been a member of the UF Foundation Board at intervals since 1977. He is a past president of the UF Alumni Association, and he received UF’s Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1971. He has received honorary degrees from the University of Florida, Florida A&M University, Florida State University, Florida Institute of Technology and the University of Notre Dame. He earned a degree in agricultural economics from UF in 1957.

Don’s wife, Carla, also earned a bachelor’s degree from UF in Education in 1960.