From lumber to learning: Why this business leader invests in San Jac students
You might expect a one-time San Jacinto College student and former Deer Park city councilman to give a more sentimental response. But at 82, Dean Lawther is not only a successful businessman. He’s also matter-of-fact.
Lawther became a Promise Partner for one simple reason: “Supporting San Jac supports local businesses.”
As a Promise Partner, he helps ensure debt-free college is available through the Promise @ San Jac Scholarship to every high school graduate in the College’s taxing district.
More accessible college degrees mean better trained employees and a better local economy. And to Lawther, that’s a good business deal.
Exploring business roots
Three generations have run Deer Park Lumber, which Lawther has now entrusted to his
own sons Warren and Jeff.
Although he offices at the lumber company today, Lawther focuses on developing property and building homes. Between the two of them, he and his father have developed and built more than 2,500 lots and homes in Deer Park, including one featured in the movie “Urban Cowboy.”
Championing community college
In the 1960s, Lawther took some classes at San Jac before going on to earn a business degree — mainly through night classes — from the University of Houston. He has always valued education while recognizing not everyone needs to take the bachelor’s degree path.
“What I like about San Jac is it has a great ability to read the room,” he said. “We’re in the petrochemical capital of the U.S., and it’s one of the few colleges that realizes not everyone needs a four-year degree.”
At a Rotary Club luncheon, Lawther met Andrea Nguyen, San Jacinto College Foundation’s director of corporate and foundation relations. They soon became friends, and when Nguyen mentioned the Promise @ San Jac Scholarship, he decided to donate.
“It just seems to me San Jac is easily accessible to those who need it,” he said.
Lawther says San Jac is “extremely well-run,” always looking forward.
“If businesses don’t progress, they die,” he said. “San Jac has done a great job progressing and meeting the community’s needs.”
Building the community
With about six decades in business, Lawther prefers to fix problems rather than complain about them. Exhibit A: His decade of service on city council.
Nguyen calls it a builder mindset.
“Dean has not just built parts of Deer Park — he’s built lives,” she said. “He has many long-term employees who are like family to him. He gives people the tools they need to support their families.”
San Jac has done a great job progressing and meeting the community’s needs.
Supporting Promise has allowed him to give students the tools they need too. Having a workforce certificate or an associate degree covered 100% through the Promise @ San Jac Scholarship is a life-changing prospect for many who would not have attended college otherwise.
Why would Lawther encourage others to become Promise Partners?
“I would encourage them for the same reason I did,” he said. “It builds the community.”
