Campus Talk: OBU Announces Stadium Campaign, ASU Picks Officers

OBU RENOVATING FOOTBALL STADIUM
Ouachita Baptist University is undertaking a fundraising campaign to overhaul its football stadium and rename it after one of its most famous football alumni, Cliff Harris.

The stadium upgrade, projected to be completed for the 2014 football season, will include updated stadium seating, press box, parking lot and related improvements. A dollar amount for the renovation was not provided.

A major donor has provided a lead gift as a matching challenge for the project, with additional funds being solicited over the next 120 days through a “100-Yard Campaign.”

Harris, an All-Conference and All-America safety for the Tigers in the 1960s and All-Pro safety for the Dallas Cowboys in the 1970s, played in six Pro Bowls and five Super Bowls for the Cowboys.

“I could not be more thrilled with the prospect of having a new football stadium for our Tigers to play in beginning next fall,” said Ouachita President Rex Horne. “Our stadium is the first thing many people pass on the way to our beautiful campus. For many years improvements have been needed. Now a generous gift and challenge makes this construction possible.

“This project is long overdue,” said Scott Street, a former Ouachita quarterback who is chairing the 100-Yard Campaign. “OBU’s stadium is the first structure you see driving by the campus. It is the first impression and needs a facelift.”

“Coach Knight and the coaching staff have brought OBU’s football program to a new level over the past few years and we need to bring our facilities up a level also. It has a huge impact on recruitment. Naming the stadium after Cliff Harris is such a natural fit,” Street added. “He has helped put the football program on the map. We encourage generous contributions toward this much-needed project.”

ASU SELECTS BOARD OFFICERS
The Arkansas State University Board of Trustees elected officers for 2014 and expanded in-state tuition rate eligibility for military service.

Dan Pierce of Jonesboro, a retired banker and real estate developer and 1972 graduate of Arkansas State, was elected chairman. He will succeed Mike Gibson of Osceola, who is completing 10 years of service on the board that included two terms as chairman.

Charles Luter of Paragould was elected vice chairman, and Howard Slinkard of Rogers was elected secretary.

The board also voted to offer in-state tuition rates to all U.S. Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) cadets as part of its 2011 initiative authorizing the rates to all persons serving in the U.S. military. The previous ASU System policy did not specifically address ROTC students, who sign an enlistment contract and on the date of signature become members of the military.

UCA RECEIVES $250,000 GIFT
The University of Central Arkansas Advancement Division announced a $250,000 gift from Terry Pillow, CEO of Tommy Bahama, Inc., to support UCA’s College of Business dean’s position.

The gift will provide current support and create an endowment for future expenses. The fund is named in memory of his parents, Homer and Regina Pillow. It is the sixth fund established in the UCA Foundation to support a faculty, chair or dean position.

“I’m often reminded of how influential my time at UCA has been in my life and career,” Pillow said. “UCA is built on a reputation of excellence and I’m proud to be an alumnus and to support UCA’s long tradition of commitment to educating students.”

Pillow, a native of Corning, AR, was named as one of the UCA distinguished alumni at the 2013 Night of Distinction. While a student, Pillow was an active member of the Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity and class officer. He graduated with a BBA in marketing in 1976.

His career started at Neiman Marcus in Dallas and he worked his way through the ranks of the clothing industry.

Pillow has served in his current position at Tommy Bahama Group, Inc. since 2008. Tommy Bahama has more than 3,000 employees and approximately $500 million in sales revenue.

Prior to that, he was CEO of Ralph Lauren Footwear; CEO of The Rockport Company; President of Coach Apparel and President of A/X Armani Exchange.