Thomas Baker Slick Jr. Visionary, Philanthropist, Catalyst
Founder Thomas Baker Slick Jr. - businessman, inventor, oilman, rancher, engineer, philanthropist, peacemaker, adventurer, and visionary.
The Southwest Foundation for Biomedical
Research began as the scientific dream of its founder, Thomas
Baker Slick Jr. A businessman, inventor, oilman, rancher,
engineer, philanthropist, peacemaker and adventurer, Tom Slick
might best be described as a visionary. Motivated by the philosophy
that the welfare of mankind could best be advanced through
scientific endeavor, he dared to imagine a “city of
science” in South Texas that could be a “great
center for human progress through scientific research.”
Although at the time many people believed his grand ideas
were impractical, he succeeded in establishing three premier
scientific research organizations that continue to carry out
his vision: the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research,
Southwest
Research Institute, and the
Mind Science Foundation.
The Foundation's Origin
