TAMEST Profile: William T. Solomon, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, O’Donnell Foundation
William T. Solomon is a distinguished business leader and philanthropist whose career spans more than five decades of leadership, civic engagement and impact-driven service. He currently serves as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of major TAMEST donor and founding supporter, the O’Donnell Foundation.
The O’Donnell Foundation is one of Texas’ most influential private foundations dedicated to advancing science, education and the arts. It was founded in 1957 by the late Peter O’Donnell Jr (1924 – 2021) and his wife Edith O’Donnell (1926 – 2020) to support higher education, scientific research and the arts in Texas and beyond. Before assuming leadership at the O’Donnell Foundation, Mr. Solomon spent 31 years as Chief Executive Officer of Austin Industries, a major employee-owned construction firm headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Under his direction, the company grew into one of the nation’s largest general contractors, known for its integrity, innovation and commitment to quality.
His transition from the business world to philanthropy was fueled by a lifelong dedication to community service and a close relationship with the O’Donnell Foundation’s founders, Edith and Peter O’Donnell. Having first met Peter O’Donnell Jr. as a teenager through a volunteer role, Mr. Solomon was deeply influenced by the O’Donnells vision and values. He joined The O’Donnell Foundation’s Board of Directors more than 15 years ago and, a few years later, succeeded Peter O’Donnell Jr. as its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Under Mr. Solomon’s leadership, the O’Donnell Foundation has expanded its legacy of excellence in STEM education, scientific research and support for Texas institutions and TAMEST.
As TAMEST celebrates 20 years of honoring scientific excellence in Texas through its Edith and Peter O’Donnell Awards program, TAMEST connected with Mr. Solomon to reflect on the legacy of Edith and Peter O’Donnell, learn about the O’Donnell Foundation’s enduring vision for scientific advancement and education, and explore the transformative role the O’Donnell Awards have had in spotlighting rising star researchers across the state.
Can you share a bit about your background and how you began your work with the O’Donnell Foundation?
My background is in business, specifically the construction industry. I served as the Chief Executive Officer of a construction company, Austin Industries, for 31 years. Over time, particularly in the later years of my career, I became increasingly interested in community service and philanthropy.
I first met Peter O’Donnell Jr. when I was 18 years old, volunteering in a political role. At the time, he was the County Chairman of the Republican Party and already a prominent figure in the state. That early encounter left an impression, and over the years, I came to know, admire and respect him greatly. Through Peter, I also had the opportunity to meet his wife Edith O’Donnell, and I developed a deep respect and affection for her as well.
About 12 to 15 years ago, Peter and Edith invited me to join the Board of Directors of the O’Donnell Foundation. I was honored to accept, knowing the remarkable work the O’Donnell Foundation was doing. Several years later – about 10 years ago – Peter approached me to say he wanted to step down from his role as Chairman, President and C.E.O. of the O’Donnell Foundation. He and Edith asked if I would be willing to take on that responsibility. After some thoughtful discussion, I agreed. Since then, leading the O’Donnell Foundation has been my primary focus and a meaningful part of my life.
Edith and Peter O’Donnell were champions of scientific advancement and STEM education in Texas. What was their original vision for the O’Donnell Foundation, and what inspired them to create it?
Edith and Peter O’Donnell established the O’Donnell Foundation back in the mid-1950s, so, quite a long time ago. At the time, they were young and beginning to accumulate wealth, and both deeply committed to using their resources to make the world a better place. That dedication to philanthropy was evident throughout all the years I knew them.
The O’Donnell Foundation became a natural expression of their values and priorities early in their adult lives. From the beginning, they focused its work on education, medicine and the arts – with a particular emphasis on medical and scientific research as well as STEM education. While their philanthropic efforts extended beyond those areas, those fields were arguably the primary focus and greatest beneficiaries of their generosity over the years.
What specifically about medical advancements and research spoke to Edith and Peter O’Donnell as a main focus of their generosity?
Edith and Peter O’Donnell believed deeply that medical science plays a vital role in improving people’s lives. In fact, Peter titled his autobiography Improving People’s Lives, which speaks to the core of their mission. They saw medical science not only as a way to extend life, but also as a powerful tool to enhance the quality of life for more and more people.
Peter and Edith understood that scientific and medical research is the engine driving this progress. It was a natural decision for them to invest heavily in these areas, including STEM education. They also recognized the unique role private philanthropy can play in filling gaps that institutional and government funding often can’t address, thereby amplifying the impact and accelerating advancements in science and medicine.
The O’Donnell Foundation has worked for more than 50 years to improve education in Texas. What has that journey looked like, and what impact are you most proud of?
The O’Donnells objectives and priorities remained remarkably consistent over more than five decades, even as the world around them changed. Their agenda evolved to meet new opportunities, but their core focus of improving lives through education, science and the arts never wavered.
One area of particular pride for the O’Donnell Foundation is its longstanding relationship with UT Southwestern Medical Center. While much of that support has centered on medical research, it has also extended to clinical care and, most recently, the creation of the Peter O’Donnell Jr. School of Public Health. Beyond medicine and science, the O’Donnell Foundation has made broad and lasting contributions to education, especially in STEM, though not exclusively.
In recent years, it has expanded to support other educational initiatives as well. Another important area of focus has been the arts, with major support provided to cultural institutions in Dallas and on the campuses of The University of Texas at Dallas and Southern Methodist University.
Notably, much of this philanthropy was done anonymously; for many years, the O’Donnells preferred to give quietly, without public recognition. Only in recent years has their name become more visible, though their humility and low-profile approach remain central to the O’Donnell Foundation’s identity.
The O’Donnell Foundation has been a strong supporter of TAMEST from the very beginning. Why was this partnership so important to Edith and Peter O’Donnell?
They recognized that just as medical and scientific research drive innovation and advancements in health care, it is the individual scientists, their teams and the labs where they collaborate that truly propel this progress. Alongside leaders like Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and Nobel Laureate Michael Brown, the O’Donnells observed early on that Texas was not receiving enough recognition for the important scientific work happening within the state. They understood that retaining and recruiting top talent was crucial for Texas to benefit from this innovation.
One powerful way to support this was through recognizing and celebrating the achievements of these scientists. This shared vision led them to help form TAMEST, with a core goal of spotlighting young, emerging research stars as well as established leaders. Peter O’Donnell Jr., in particular, believed that an awards program would be an effective tool to highlight and encourage outstanding rising scientific talent.
This idea became the foundation for the Edith and Peter O’Donnell Awards, which have since become a key part of TAMEST’s efforts to foster and honor excellence in Texas science.
Since 2006, 17 O’Donnell Award recipients have been elected to one of the National Academies and six have been elected to multiple academies. How have you seen these awards impact rising star researchers in Texas?
The proof is in the pudding. A striking number of O’Donnell Award recipients have gone on to be recognized by one or more of the National Academies. This really shows that both the awards program and TAMEST are doing an excellent job of selecting truly deserving recipients.
Moreover, the awards have played a crucial role in motivating these researchers to continue their important work and have helped keep them here in Texas, where their contributions can have the greatest impact.
2026 marks the 20th anniversary of the Edith and Peter O’Donnell Awards at TAMEST. Why are these awards meaningful, and what legacy do they represent?
I think the award has gained significant prestige from the very beginning of its 20-year history. It’s highly valued within the scientific community because it represents peer recognition, which means a lot to researchers.
Beyond that, emerging scientists see that past recipients have gone on to become not just rising stars, but true superstars in their fields. This track record has added even more prestige to the award.
While the $25,000 honorarium component of the O’Donnell Award is certainly important, I believe the greater value lies in the recognition from peers and the reputation that has come to be associated with it.
What motivates you personally in your work with the O’Donnell Foundation?
Like the O’Donnells, I was raised to believe in giving back as much as taking in life – through community service, philanthropy and personal relationships. That aspect of their work was appealing to me even before I became involved, and it still is today.
Additionally, the O’Donnells, and by extension, the O’Donnell Foundation, had significant resources, which made it possible to accomplish things that otherwise wouldn’t have been possible. That capacity to make a real impact has always been attractive.
Lastly, the two individuals themselves. Edith and Peter’s character, public spirit, intelligence, foresight and vision made their work truly worthwhile. Being able to carry on their legacy, especially since their passing, is a privilege and an opportunity I deeply value.
What does it mean to you to live and work in Texas?
I’m a fourth-generation Texan, born in Dallas, and I’ve lived in Texas almost my entire life, except for a brief interruption during part of my education. I’m very proud to be a Texan and proud of Texas. While we’re not perfect, I deeply appreciate the frontier spirit of innovation and opportunity that still thrives here.
In Texas, people don’t care about your lineage or family background; what matters is what you can do. They want to know how you can contribute to making Texas – and cities like Dallas, Houston, Austin, Fort Worth and San Antonio – an even better place. That brief interruption I mentioned was two years spent on the East Coast, where the culture is quite different. There, people tend to focus heavily on your family background, pedigree and where you went to school.
I love that in Texas, people are judged by their character and contributions, not their lineage. Of course, Texas is blessed with abundant natural resources, a great location and a thriving business environment. We have so much going for us here, and I’m truly grateful for all the opportunities Texas offers.
Finally, what do you see for the next 20 years of the O’Donnell Awards?
My hope is to see the program continue to grow and become even more successful than it has been. Over the years it’s become increasingly more competitive, which is a great sign that what we’re trying to achieve is working. Texas is producing more and more brilliant rising stars in scientific and medical research.
A program like the O’Donnell Awards, in partnership with TAMEST, is becoming even more important over time – to recognize these emerging talents and give them the recognition they deserve, both among their peers and in the broader scientific community. I truly believe this concept will endure for as long as we can imagine, and I certainly hope it does.
