A Vision That Continues to Shape LSU

Bill (center) and Stephanie (right) Barineau in 1996, following the establishment of the Stephanie Landry Barineau Endowed Professorship in Choral Arts.

 

George William “Bill” Barineau III believed the greatest investments were the ones that continued creating opportunities long after they were made. 

Over a period of 20 years, the LSU engineering graduate (’57) established four endowed professorships and an engineering enrichment fund, each inspired by the people, passions, and experiences that shaped his life. Together, these visionary investments continue strengthening LSU by supporting outstanding faculty, enriching student learning, and advancing academic excellence.

“He was so excited about what he could do for LSU,” shared his wife, Stephanie. “He would often tell me, ‘I just can’t believe what I can do for LSU.’” 

Bill’s enthusiasm for giving back to his alma mater grew from his own LSU experience. As a young man, he worked on offshore oil rigs to help pay for college before earning his engineering degree and beginning a successful career with ExxonMobil. He then put 10 members of his family through college, never forgetting how the education he earned at LSU transformed his future, Stephanie said. 

“He felt like LSU gave him so much for his profession,” she recalled. “He learned a great deal, he enjoyed being there, and he wanted to give back.” 

To Bill, education represented opportunity, and opportunity was meant to be shared. That philosophy guided his philanthropy, with every gift reflecting a person or passion that helped shape who he was.

His first endowed professorship honored his mother, Aloysia Landry Barineau. She was a dancer, and since LSU did not offer a dance professorship at the time, Bill chose to support piano studies — another lifelong passion of hers. 

His next gift celebrated Stephanie's love of music by establishing an endowed professorship in choral music. “I thought that was very romantic,” Stephanie said with a laugh. “Can you imagine doing a professorship in my name?” 

Bill’s philanthropy continued to grow alongside his appreciation for Louisiana’s natural resources and the traditions that had shaped his family. He established the George William Barineau III Professorship in the College of the Coast & Environment and, later, the George William Barineau Jr. Professorship in the College of Agriculture (honoring his father and their shared love of the outdoors). 

Stephanie explained, “The fact that [each endowed gift] continues on is a big plus. It doesn’t end after 10 or 20 years. It’ll keep going forever, and that was appealing to Bill.” 

In addition to the enduring impact of the professorships, Bill recognized opportunities to make an immediate difference on campus. Throughout his career, he came to appreciate that technical expertise alone wasn’t enough, Stephanie said. As someone who was naturally quiet, he believed engineers also needed self-assurance to communicate their ideas effectively.  

Bill wanted future engineers to leave LSU prepared not only to solve complex problems but also to confidently present their ideas, He established the Bill & Stephanie Barineau Engineering Communication Enrichment Fund to help students build those essential skills. 

“He believed in investing in people,” Stephanie said. “Of all the things you could invest in in engineering, he chose to invest in students, thus the engineering communications fund was created.”  

Bill passed away on January 30, 2026, at the age of 91, but the opportunities he created continue to enrich lives every day across LSU's campus. That legacy will last for generations thanks to his decision to establish several endowed funds. 

“I’m proud of his generosity and his foresight to know what that might do,” Stephanie reflected. “Bill would be proud of the excellent crops that Louisiana produces as LSU trains the next generation of farmers. He would be proud that we have better musicians, better engineers, and better people working on the coast and in the rivers of Louisiana.”