In 1986 UT alumnus and controlling owner of Esquire Phillip Moffitt established an endowment of $100,000 to provide a salary supplement to a UT professor with exceptional ability to “articulate economic theory to people outside the field.” Dr. George A. “Tony” Spiva was the first recipient. Spiva had provided guidance and assistance to Moffitt and the other founders of 13-30 Corporation (later Whittle Communications) during its formative years.