Bethany College, a small school in West Virginia, has established a professorship in mathematics to commemorate Matthew Ammon, a Microsoft attorney who was killed when a crane collapsed into his Bellevue apartment building in 2006.

His mother, Kathleen Gaberson, donated the funds for the Matthew Quay Ammon Endowed Professorship in Mathematics, and the first appointment will begin in September 2010.

Ammon, who was 31 when he died, graduated from Bethany College in 1996 with a bachelor's degree in computer science and a minor in math. He earned his law degree from Duquesne University and joined Microsoft as an intellectual property and licensing attorney in spring of 2006. In November that year, a 210-foot crane fell on Pinnacle Bellecentre, where Ammon lived.

Ammon's family and two companies involved in erecting the crane settled in April of this year for an undisclosed amount.

In a statement released by Bethany College, Gregory B. Jordan, chairman of the board of trustees, said, "The Bethany community is profoundly grateful for the privilege to honor Matthew, a remarkable son, student and professional. Matthew represents the very best of Bethany College, and it is our deep hope that Dr. Gaberson’s generous gift will further in others the exceptional talent, determination and potential that Matthew so richly possessed.”

Here is the story from April on the settlement.