Donors support new SMU tennis complex
Four leadership donors have given more than $1 million each to support the new SMU Tennis Complex. Another 14 donors have committed gifts ranging from $25,000 to $500,000 for a total of nearly $11 million in commitments.
Dallas (SMU) – Four leadership donors have given more than $1 million each to support the new SMU Tennis Complex. They are Edwin L. Cox, Sr., and the Jack A. Turpin family, both of Dallas; the Altec/Styslinger Foundation of Birmingham, Alabama; and the family of Ann Warmack Brookshire and Brad Brookshire of Tyler, Texas. Another 14 donors have committed gifts ranging from $25,000 to $500,000 for a total of nearly $11 million in commitments.
"SMU is committed to creating opportunities for student success in all of their pursuits," said SMU President R. Gerald Turner. "The new tennis complex will enable us to recruit top-ranked student-athletes and develop programs that perform at the highest levels, building on SMU's legacy as home to world-class tennis events."
Dallas donors of gifts ranging from $25,000 to $500,000 include Kenneth Z. Altshuler and Ruth Collins Sharp Altshuler; the Cash family; Kit Carson; Shirley Williams Crow and Stuart M. Crow; the late Richard L. Dennie and Shirley Dennie; C.J. "Don" Donnally, Jr. and Carol G. Donnally; Al G. Hill, Jr.; Clark K. Hunt and Tavia S. Hunt; Daniel L. Hunt and Toni Munoz Hunt; Roman J. Kupchynsky, II and Ruth Irwin Kupchynsky; the Tripplehorn family; Charles Wear and Janet Mitchell Wear; and King R. White and Nicole Hunt White. Donors also include Marget Reneberg and Richey Reneberg of Bethesda, Maryland.
"The gifts from these generous donors will enhance the preeminence of SMU and Dallas in the sport of tennis," said Brad Cheves, SMU vice president for Development and External Affairs. "We are grateful for their support of student-athletes and Mustang fans."
The SMU Tennis Complex, located on the southwest corner of Mockingbird and North Central Expressway, includes the Turpin Stadium, with six outdoor courts, and the Styslinger Grand Viewing Terrace and the Brookshire Pavilion, with six indoor courts and a patron balcony. The third-floor Edwin L. Cox Club Suite includes both outdoor and indoor court viewing areas and an entertainment area. In addition, the complex features new student-athlete locker rooms, coaches' offices and fitness and training areas.
Edwin L. Cox, Sr.
Edwin L. Cox, Sr. is the chair and chief executive officer of the Edwin L. Cox Company. He is the former chair of Cox Oil & Gas Inc., SEDCO Inc. and Keebler Company. He has been an SMU supporter for many years, including serving as chair of the Board of Governors and the Board of Trustees. In 1978 SMU's Business School was named the Edwin L. Cox School of Business in recognition of his many contributions to the University. He is a member of the Cox School of Business Executive Board and honorary chair of The Second Century Campaign Steering Committee.
Jack A. Turpin Family
Jack Turpin is founder of Hall-Mark Electronics Corporation and T Bar M tennis clubs and resorts and president of the Jack and Sally Turpin Foundation. Jack graduated from Rice University where, as a member of its 1949 tennis team, he was National Junior Indoor doubles champion. Active in developing tennis in public parks and schools, he was influential in the building of Dallas' Samuell Grand Tennis Center, host to the 1965 Davis Cup. He is a member of SMU's Second Century Campaign Steering Committee for Athletics. Mr. Turpin’s late wife, Sally Poe Turpin, attended SMU. Their eldest son, Scott Turpin, played tennis for Rice University. Their younger sons, Mark Turpin and Jeff Turpin, were members of two of the highest-ranking tennis teams in SMU history.
Altec/Styslinger Foundation
Brothers Lee, Mark and Jon Styslinger of Birmingham, Alabama, have been avid tennis players since childhood. Mark J. Styslinger is senior vice president of Altec Inc. and an SMU graduate. He played tennis for the SMU Mustangs from 1983 to 1986, earned 81 individual victories and played in four NCAA team championship finals. Lee J. Styslinger, III is chairman and chief executive officer of Altec, Inc., and Jon C. Styslinger is president of Altec, Inc.
Ann and Brad Brookshire Family
Three generations of the Brookshire family of Tyler, Texas, have attended and supported SMU for more than 50 years. Ann Warmack Brookshire is a certified public accountant and community leader. At SMU she is co-chair of The Second Century Campaign Steering Committee for Central University Libraries and a member of the Central University Libraries Executive Board. Brad Brookshire is chairman of the board of Brookshire Grocery Company and serves on the board of directors of the Food Marketing Institute and numerous community boards. At SMU he is a member of the Board of Trustees, The Second Century Campaign Steering Committee for Athletics and the Cox School of Business Executive Board. Two of their sons, Trenton Brookshire and Anderson Brookshire, earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from SMU. A third son, Clifford Bradley Brookshire, will graduate from SMU in spring 2015.
The gifts to fund the SMU Tennis Complex count toward the $1 billion goal of SMU Unbridled: The Second Century Campaign. To date the campaign has raised more than $942 million in gifts and pledges to support student quality, faculty and academic excellence and the campus experience. The campaign coincides with SMU’s celebration of the 100th anniversary of the University’s founding in 1911 and its opening in 1915.
Related Link:
- The Dallas Morning News: Robert Miller: Donor support builds new SMU Tennis Complex