Donor Spotlights

Joe Averett, Jr.

Joe Averett, Jr. has been the President for Crystal Gas Storage, Inc. since 1985.  Prior to joining Crystal, he worked for 10 years at Pennzoil Company in various finance-related positions serving as Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer. From 1977-1978 he took a leave of absence from Pennzoil to serve in the U. S. Treasury Department, Office of the Secretary, as a Presidential Executive in Washington, D.C.

Averett’s effort to raise funds for organizations in our local community is extensive.  He has not only served on the board of directors, but has been active in the fundraising efforts of numerous organizations including Sci-Port, the United Way of Northwest Louisiana, the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce, the Caddo Public Education Foundation, the Alliance for Education, the Shreveport Bossier Community Foundation, Red River Public Radio, the LSUS Foundation, and the First Methodist Church of Shreveport.  He has provided leadership roles in each of these organizations and had been instrumental in motivating others to support them as well.

Averett has been one of LSUS’s most influential supporters and fundraisers.  As President of the LSUS Foundation he spearheaded the LSUS 30^th Anniversary Campaign to Build Academic Endowment, the first major fundraising campaign in the 33 year history of LSUS.  With an original goal of one million dollars, under his leadership, the campaign reached more than two million dollars including eight endowed professorships, 12 endowed scholarships, and five endowed funds.  This accomplishment would not have been possible without his leadership efforts of the volunteers in the campaign.

Joe is personally responsible for the largest donation in LSUS history when he arranged for El Paso Energy, the parent company of Crystal Gas Storage, to donate the Crystal Oil Building to the university in 1999.  The building was valued at more than three million dollars, making it the largest gift in LSUS history.  In addition, Averett, and his wife Abby, have established the $100,000 Joe and Abby Averett Endowed Professorship in Business.