More than 50 years ago, “a professor from the University of Houston invited me to an IEEE meeting and the rest was history,” recounted T. Scott Atkinson. “Almost immediately, I began volunteering in my IEEE Communications Society Chapter and the IEEE Houston Section. Those events led me to continue volunteering and gradually take on additional roles with conferences at the Society level,” added Atkinson, who is the 2020 IEEE Life Members Committee chair. “Needless to say, the IEEE has been my professional association and a very important part of my career, and I can credit my success directly to my membership.”

“For many years, I’ve donated to the IEEE Foundation and a few of my societies,” he continued. “Since becoming a Life Member, I’ve donated to the IEEE Life Members Fund and have included the IEEE Foundation in my estate plans.” IEEE members and others that have named the IEEE Foundation in their estate plans become members of the elite donor recognition group, the IEEE Goldsmith Legacy League. IEEE Foundation President John Treichler presented Atkinson with well-deserved recognition for joining the ranks of the IEEE’s elite group of planned giving donors at a 15 February 2020  ceremony during the IEEE Board Series.

“I know that I won’t live forever, and I have a sense that I need to be a part of the solution for humanity,” Atkinson said of his desire to give back to the organization that has played such a significant role in his life and career. “I feel that I should plant a tree under which I shall never sit and believe that we all need to support the cause of helping humanity. I hope that the example I set will rub off on others so that they can see the benefit of sharing some of their capital to support the goals of serving humanity.”

IEEE Foundation President John Treichler (left) recognized T. Scott Atkinson for becoming a member of the IEEE Goldsmith Legacy League during the IEEE Board Series.