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DALLAS (ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ) – When ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ gathers April 15 to unveil a new campus monument recognizing major donors and to dedicate the new Crain Family Centennial Promenade, it will mark the finale to the University’s historic $1.15 billion . The community is invited to attend the ceremony at 6 p.m. on the South Plaza, near the Hughes-Trigg Student ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ, followed by a festive celebration.

The campaign major donor monument recognizes the leadership and major gift donors to the campaign.  Breaking previous records, ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ received a historic 183 commitments at the Leadership Gift level of $1 million or more.  Major donors to the campaign, numbering more than 600, are also listed on the monument plaques.

The Crain Family Centennial Promenade, in addition to opening a vital pedestrian walkway across the campus, will provide a welcoming space for the community to celebrate the broad support of those whose gifts to ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ are increasing the University’s prominence and academic stature.

Promenade brick pavers being laid.

, the walkway links the namesake Crain family with more than 10,000 other donors whose inscribed pavers line the new promenade. Each paver’s inscription tells a Hilltop story, and all those who contributed were invited to share their reasons for giving online.

“This will be a joyful day for all of us,” said ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ President R. Gerald Turner.  “Not only will we celebrate a job well done by our major donors and legions of others, but we’ll also have the opportunity to invite our friends and families to stroll this beautiful new promenade and read the inscriptions. It’s a perfect finale for the Second Century Campaign and a lasting tribute to our generous donors.”

ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ alumnus Gerald J. Ford, an ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ trustee and convening co-chair of the campaign, said the University is poised for greatness in its second century.

 “The future for ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ and Dallas is brighter because of the incredible generosity of donors to this campaign. What their gifts will do for the next generation of leaders, researchers, innovators, artists and entrepreneurs is impossible to measure at this time, but the impact will be unprecedented.”

ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ alumnus Michael M. Boone, chair of the ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ Board of Trustees and a campaign co-chair, said the relationship between ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ and its home in North Texas make for an ideal partnership.

 “Dallas and ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ have grown up together, and both are experiencing an era of great promise and momentum,” Boone said. “Great global cities need great centers of learning that serve as incubators for creative ideas and innovative actions that change the world. I’m thrilled that this fundraising success helps ensure that ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ will continue to play a pivotal role in advancing the growth and entrepreneurial culture of Dallas for many years to come.”

The Crain Family and ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ

In the midst of the celebration, ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ will pay tribute to the long-standing relationship of the Crain family with the University through the naming of the promenade.

The Crain family’s ties to ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ began with the enrollment of the late Ann Lacy Crain ’41.  Mrs. Crain earned a B.A. degree in English from ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ and was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.  She later became president of R. Lacy, Inc., an oil and gas production corporation, founded by her father, Rogers Lacy, and based in her home community of Longview, Texas.  She also was president of The Crain Foundation.  Mrs. Crain served her alma mater as well, as a member of the ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ Board of Trustees from 1984 to 1987 and as a member of the Dedman College Executive Board.

Mrs. Crain married Bluford Walter "B.W." Crain, Jr. and together they had three children, Lacy Crain,  B. Walter Crain, III ’72 and Rogers Lacy Crain.  Mrs. Crain and her family now constitute three generations of ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ alumni.

The family, through The Crain Foundation, has shown an ongoing commitment to ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ.  Their support includes funding of the Ann Lacy Crain Fountain on the east plaza of the Blanton Student Services Building, as well as general support of Meadows School of the Arts, Edwin L. Cox School of Business, the Hamon Arts Library Building Fund, the ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ Annual Fund and Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, among other areas. 

In 2012, the Crain family continued their support of the beautification of the ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ campus through a generous gift creating the Crain Family Centennial Promenade. Funding of the Crain Family Centennial Promenade supported the five-year Second Century Celebration marking the centennials of the founding of ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ in 1911 and its opening in 1915.

ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ stories in stone

While there are thousands of stories behind the , many share common themes of a passion for learning, a love of ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ and the bonds that were formed on the Hilltop.

Sample paver.

For paver donor Jack Benage ’11, ’13, ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ is where he found the love of his life: “I donated this paver as a Valentine’s Day gift to Meredith Levine ’11, ’14, commemorating the day that we met on campus years ago. As it turns out, months later I asked her to marry me just steps from where the pavers will eventually be placed. Our paver is now a lasting tangible reminder of ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ’s role in bringing us together!”

Kellie P. Johnson ’95 honored Professors Brad Carter, Dennis Simon and Joe Kobylka: “I graduated with my B.S. in poli sci in 1995. I took almost every class taught by Drs. Simon, Carter and Kobylka. They were, by far, my favorite professors. I named my oldest son after Dr. Carter. I still email all three of them regularly and often stop by the Poli Sci Department when I’m on the Hilltop to just say ‘hi’ or chat as long as they’ll have me. They are great men, great teachers and great friends. I bought my paver to honor three individuals who made a lasting impact on my life and for whom I have more love and respect than I can ever convey to them.”

Many multigenerational ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ families are represented on the promenade. Among them are Deva Fontenot ’88 and her son, Dustin Fontenot ’13. She donated the gift as a lasting tribute to their Mustang pride: “I completed my education at ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ in 1988 with a degree in advertising. I always felt that this great University introduced me to talented people and had the ability to attract great professionals here to share their knowledge. When my oldest son applied to ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ, it was thrilling to see him accepted and create a legacy for our family. We have commemorated that with this paver displaying both of our names. It’s an honor to be a part of this beautiful promenade for always.”

Unbridled Generosity

The Second Century Campaign, which concluded Dec. 31, 2015, was an unprecedented success, raising $1.15 billion for University priorities and increasing ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ’s visibility and engagement among key University stakeholders. More than 65,000 members of the ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ family joined at a unique time in ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ history – including the centennial commemorations of ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ’s founding and opening as well as the establishment of the George W. Bush Presidential ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ – to support a campaign that will benefit the University, its students and faculty far into the future.

Donors provided 689 new student scholarships; raised the previous number of 62 endowed faculty positions to a new total of 116; and provided for 68 new or significantly enhanced academic programs and initiatives, including endowments for two schools. Twenty-four capital projects have been substantially funded, including new facilities for academic programs, student housing and athletics. Other gifts for campus enhancements support expanded career services and leadership programs.

Volunteer Leadership

The Second Century Campaign was served by more than 400 volunteers from throughout the world led by six co-chairs, all ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ trustees: convening co-chair Gerald J. Ford ‘66, ‘69, Ruth Collins Sharp Altshuler ‘48, Michael M. Boone ’63, ’67, Ray L. Hunt ‘65, Caren H. Prothro and Carl Sewell ‘66.

The campaign was launched publicly in 2008 with a goal of $750 million. When it achieved that goal two years ahead of schedule, the Board of Trustees voted to increase the goal to $1 billion, which, ultimately, also was exceeded. ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ’s previous major gifts campaign, ending in 2002, was the University’s first successful campaign since its opening. “A Time to Lead: The Campaign for ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ” was launched in 1997 with an original goal of $300 million. Again, strong momentum led to an increased goal of $400 million. The final amount raised was $542 million.

Including both campaigns, in the last two decades ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ has raised more than $1.7 billion for new scholarships, new academic positions, academic programs and capital projects.