The Meinig and Hojel families established the Richard C. Hojel Endowed Scholarship Fund in memory of Richard C. Hojel, a distinguished alumnus. When Richard Hojel (1940-1995) left his home in Mexico City to begin his college studies, he promised his father, who had business relationships in Tulsa, that he would attend The University of Tulsa on a six-month trial basis. He said he felt comfortable right away, and he liked the university and city so much that he convinced his fiancée to transfer to TU. His younger sister, Barbara, also followed Richard to TU and graduated in 1969. Inside the classroom, Mr. Hojel focused on his studies in business management (BS ’62, Management).
Outside the classroom, he joined Sigma Chi fraternity and developed friendships with classmates and faculty that lasted a lifetime. Mr. Hojel returned to Mexico City in 1962 to work in the family’s business.
In 1970, Mr. Hojel earned an MBA from the Instituto Panamericano De Alta Direccion De Empresas, A.C., which was associated with Harvard University’s Advanced Management Program. In 1974, Mr. Hojel was hospitalized due to severe injuries from an accident. Both of his hands were amputated due to electrical burns, and his long recuperation caused his business ventures to fail at the time. However, upon recuperation, he began creating a business empire that spanned both the United States and Mexico. He became president of IEP-Hojel, a maker of equipment for the petroleum, petrochemical and chemical industries.
During his lifetime, Hojel promoted strengthened business relationships between Mexico and the United States. He also championed causes for handicapped individuals and counseled accident victims. Mr. Hojel was named a TU Distinguished Alumnus in 1982. The Richard P. Hojel Endowed Scholarship Fund will perpetually honor this remarkable individual.
Peter C. Meinig was a longtime friend and business partner of Richard Hojel. Peter and his wife, Nancy, helped establish this important scholarship fund in honor of his colleague, with whom he had founded HM International and other enterprises.
Peter and Nancy Meinig also were dear friends and generous supporters of The University of Tulsa, with both of them serving terms on the TU Board of Trustees. Among their many gifts to TU, the Meinigs funded The Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig Recital Hall in the Roxana Rózsa and Robert Eugene Lorton Performance Center. Peter Meinig was a TU Trustee Emeritus when he passed away in September 2017, leaving an important legacy of growth and progress for TU students.
