https://news.fsu.edu/news/university-news/2019/01/04/longtime-fsu-supporter-george-langford-dies/
Longtime FSU supporter George Langford dies
The Florida State University community expressed sadness Friday at the passing of civic leader George Langford and deep appreciation for his untiring leadership and loyal support of FSU for more than five decades.
“George earned admiration and respect not only for the countless ways he served FSU but also for his integrity and great love for this institution,” said President John Thrasher. “He has passed on that love to his family, and they also are very active with Florida State. We could not be more grateful for their friendship.”
Calling Langford a pillar of the community, FSU Vice President for University Advancement Tom Jennings said, “It is difficult to overstate his positive influence on so many aspects of FSU’s athletic and academic programs.”
Langford earned nearly every honor a volunteer can receive from FSU, including the Alumni Association’s highest honor, the Bernard Sliger Award, and the Circle of Gold. Additionally, he received the Athletics Hall of Fame Moore-Stone Award, an Honorary Doctor of Letters and the FSU faculty’s Torch Award. He was a founding member of the Seminole Boosters Board of Directors in the 1970s, and one of only two people given lifetime membership on the FSU Foundation Board of Trustees.
He was a member of the Seminole Boosters’ highest giving level, the Micco Society, and he created the George R. Langford Eminent Scholars Chair in Classics (Arts & Sciences), along with many other contributions through the years.
Langford served three terms as chairman of the Seminole Boosters Board, and he is credited with resurrecting the Boosters organization and the Seminole Athletics Program.
Following a three-year stretch in the mid-1970s when FSU won a total of three football games and found its athletics program heavily in debt, a search was launched to find a dynamic leader who could turn fundraising around. Without exception, Langford was recommended by alumni and friends of the university.
“The decision of the Boosters to recruit George Langford and his decision to accept the opportunity to lead our organization was one of the most important events that has occurred in our 64-year history,” said Seminole Boosters President Andy Miller. “It was indeed a defining moment.”
Miller was hired by Langford and a group of mostly Tallahassee board members to serve as executive director of the Boosters in 1975.
“Coach Bowden was hired in 1976 and challenged by George to resurrect the football program, promising Bobby that he would take care of the money,” Miller said. “George mentored me and taught me about business, fundraising and life. I owe him so much for those valuable lessons and inspiring me and a legion of volunteers, donors and future leaders.”
Those leaders included Langford’s son, Lawton, who became a dynamic Chairman of the Seminole Boosters.
To recognize Langford’s many achievements along with his giving spirit, the Boosters board created the George Langford Award to recognize leadership and lifetime achievement serving the best interests of FSU.
And in 2000, the Seminole Boosters named an esplanade outside Doak Campbell Stadium where Seminole football fans and their families gather and celebrate the “George R. Langford Green.”
In addition to his leadership on the Boosters board, Langford served six terms as the FSU Foundation Chair and co-chaired the university’s first capital campaign. He also helped found the Springtime Tallahassee festival and served with distinction on virtually every board in the capital city.
https://news.fsu.edu/news/university-news/2019/01/26/prominent-fsu-supporter-al-dunlap-passes-away/
Prominent FSU supporter Al Dunlap passes away
Albert J. Dunlap, a former corporate executive and one of Florida State University’s most generous supporters, passed away Friday, Jan. 25, at his home in Ocala after a brief illness. He was 81.
Dunlap will be remembered for his boisterous enthusiasm, his grand gestures of generosity and his popularity among Florida State student-athletes.
“Al Dunlap was undeniably passionate about investing in the potential of future leaders,” said FSU President John Thrasher. “We are incredibly fortunate that two decades ago Al and his wife, Judy, chose to share that passion with FSU, fostering the achievements of our students and successes of this university. Their journey of generosity at Florida State is evident, from the Student Success Center in the center of campus to the athletic training facility at the stadium. Al’s legacy will live on to benefit future generations of Seminoles.”
Dunlap’s relationship with Florida State began in 1995 when he was invited to campus to speak. He and Judy quickly fell in love with FSU because of its great academic programs, championship athletics and beautiful campus, and they wanted to make a difference in the lives of its students.
“We are fortunate that Al Dunlap fell in love with Florida State University,” said Ed Burr, chair of the FSU Board of Trustees. “The generosity of Al and Judy have benefited thousands of our students and student-athletes. They have changed the lives of many graduates and future generations for the better.”
The Dunlaps’ generosity produced a number of significant gifts to Florida State over the years. They established the Albert J. and Judith A. Dunlap Student Success Center, where the Career Center is located. Their gifts also supported outdoor football practice fields (Al Dunlap Practice Fields) and a state-of-the-art indoor practice field, the Albert J. Dunlap Athletic Training Facility. Their generosity was recognized with the naming of the Albert J. and Judith A. Dunlap Champions Club at Doak Campbell Stadium.
In October, the Dunlaps announced a $20 million lead gift to the Seminole Boosters’ Unconquered Campaign, the centerpiece of which is a new, football-only facility to be built adjacent to FSU’s current practice fields.
Florida State University recognizes the Dunlaps as having contributed in excess of $40 million.
“My thoughts and prayers are with Judy and her family,” said FSU football coach Willie Taggart. “When I first met Al and Judy, there was an instant connection because of their genuine love for Florida State and commitment to the value of hard work. All of us fortunate enough to have spent time with Al are better for those experiences. I will miss Al, especially his enthusiasm and passion for bettering the lives of students at Florida State. Our football program and university have been forever changed due to his generosity, and he will be sincerely missed.”
Andy Miller, president and CEO of Seminole Boosters, Inc., said he has many fond memories of Dunlap.
“Just recently Al and Judy were featured speakers for our Seminole Student Boosters’ Champions Forum,” he said. “Not only did the Dunlaps take their time to share their inspirational story of overcoming adversity to achieve success in business and marriage, but I was impressed with how much time the couple spent with our students afterward, engaging with each of them and signing hundreds of copies of his book. Al Dunlap will always be remembered as one of the true game-changers in FSU history. He made an immeasurable impact on our students, our student-athletes and our university and will be missed dearly.”
FSU Interim Athletics Director David Coburn agreed.
“Al and Judy generously provided so many opportunities for our student-athletes that would not have been available without their support,” Coburn said. “We are very grateful to them both, and we offer our deepest sympathies to Judy and her family.”
FSU Vice President for University Advancement Tom Jennings said Dunlap was committed to excellence.
“FSU was his and Judy’s adopted university, and their generosity is promoting and sustaining athletic and academic excellence here every day,” Jennings said. “They are among the university’s most generous donors, and we are grateful for all they have done for Florida State University.”
Dunlap also enjoyed interacting with students and frequently spoke to business classes.
“Al was a great storyteller whose life experiences in business and world events were fascinating,” Jennings said. “He shared his business experience and advice with groups of FSU students many times, and they enjoyed and learned much from these encounters.”
In addition, thousands of students have benefited from the services offered at the Dunlap Success Center, according to Career Center Director Myrna P. Hoover.
“The Career Center and the Center for Leadership and Social Change housed in this state-of-the-art building supports students to find civic purpose, social action and career identity,” she said.
Dunlap’s generosity was not limited to FSU. He and Judy focused their philanthropic efforts on their passions — education, medicine and animals — and they made significant gifts to a Mayo Cancer Center in Judy’s hometown of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville in honor of Judy’s parents. In Marion County where Dunlap lived, he and Judy supported the Sheriff’s K-9 Department and sponsored an annual Christmas party for underprivileged children.
Dunlap was highly motivated by his impoverished roots. He graduated from West Point in 1960, the first in his family to graduate from college. He spent three years in the military as a paratrooper and an executive officer of a nuclear missile site before embarking on a 37-year career in business. He met Judy in 1966 while working in Wisconsin.
In all, Dunlap served as chairman and chief executive officer of nine major corporations on three continents, including Lily-Tulip, Kimberly-Clark and Scott Paper.
In those positions, he oversaw operations that created the first plastic ketchup bottle and the Big Gulp cup. He did a five-city international speaking tour with General Norman Schwarzkopf and Mikhail Gorbachev.
He was the author of a bestselling book, “Mean Business,” and was featured on Dateline, Nightline and many other television shows. Florida Trend named him a Florida Icon.
Dunlap was the recipient of three honorary doctoral degrees, including one from FSU.
Dunlap and Judy received the 2015 George Langford Award from the Seminole Boosters in recognition of their extraordinary philanthropic leadership. Dunlap also received the Godfrey Smith Award from Seminole Boosters in 2017 for outstanding leadership and contribution to the Boosters Board of Directors.
http://allthingsfsu.blogspot.com/2018/10/fsu-gets-20-million-gift-for-football.html
Dunlap Gifts to Florida State University
Top six fundraising years in FSU history:
FY 16 $225 million
FY 08 $129 million
FY 17 $128 million
FY 18 $107 million (through May)*
FY 15 $115 million
FY 14 $108 million
https://allthingsfsu.blogspot.com/2018/02/fsu-major-gift-history.html
$100 Million
Jim and Jan Moran
"The $100 million pledge includes $80 million over 20 years, or $4 million a year, and a $20 million charitable bequest, administrators said.
FSU officials said that they think it's the largest private donation ever to a public university in Florida and that it matches the largest ever to any university in the state. "
"Moran first gave nearly $2 million to FSU in 1995 toward what is now The Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship.
Jan Moran (and deceased husband Jim) gave multiple six and seven figure gifts
As an example: https://www.fsu.edu/news/2008/08/06/moran.gift/
$25 Million
DeVoe Moore
$25 Million (but heard varying amounts on this) mixed donation on academics and athletics
"For perspective, consider that DeVoe Moore, an entrepreneur, gave a $25 million gift![[IMG]](file:///C:/Users/Michael/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.png)
that will support academics and athletics."
that will support academics and athletics."
"14. DeVOE MOORE--$5 million to the FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY from this Tallahassee businessman and alumnus to create the DeVoe Moore Center for the Study of Critical Issues in Government. The gift will pay for two professorships, an endowed chair, and student scholarships. Moore said, "It is my wish that this endowment be used to educate students in the area of government regulations and how these regulations affect private enterprise. It is very difficult for young people to start their own businesses as I have done because of the intrusion of government, particularly at the local level.""
"DeVoe gave what was announced as $25 million to fund scholarships (primarily athletic) in 2005, plus at least one other major gift of $5 million to endow the DeVoe Moore Center in Social Sciences."
$20 Million
Al Dunlap
$5 Million for practice facility and Student Success Center
"The Dunlaps, who gave FSU a $10 million gift in 2007 to build a student success center and $5 million in 2012 as the lead donors for the football team’s Indoor Practice Facility, were recently considering a proposal to make another $5 million donation to Seminole Boosters, Inc.
"The approval of the Albert J. and Judith A. Dunlap Champions Club follows the couple’s $5 million pledge toward the project to Seminole Boosters last November. It will be paid out in five years.
That gift means the Dunlaps have been credited with contributing $20 million to the FSU since 2007."
"In 2008, FSU named its new Student Success Center in honor of the Dunlaps, who contributed $5 million toward the project. That money was matched by the state, so FSU credits the couple with a $10 million donation.
The indoor athletic facility on campus was named the Albert J. Dunlap Athletic Training Facility, following another $5 million donation. His name also is on the Al Dunlap Football Practice Fields."
DONATION RETURNED BY FSU (UNDER TK WETHERELL)
$11 Million
Robert Holton
Robert Holton donated $11 million to FSU Chemistry.
TALLAHASSEE - Florida State University plans to return gifts totaling $11 million, plus interest, to a professor acclaimed for developing a lifesaving synthetic cancer drug in a bid to end a dispute over a new chemistry building, school officials said Wednesday.
Robert Holton’s MDS Research Foundation donated the money with conditions that the building focus heavily on his specialty: synthetic organic chemistry.
The foundation sued the university last year after Florida State President T.K. Wetherell decided instead to construct a general chemistry building costing in excess of $55 million. University officials say Holton’s vision was too expensive, costing about twice that amount including endowed faculty chairs and research expenses.
“No professor has the right to create a shrine to his own research area with public funds,” Wetherell said in the university’s statement.
The offer to return MDS donations of $6 million given in 1999 and $5 million in 2002 will not be excepted nor will it end the lawsuit that seeks to enforce requirements attached to the gifts, said foundation president Mike Devine.
“Returning half a loaf is not good enough,” Holton said in a statement. “Our goal was to do something world class, and it turned into something mediocre.”
MDS and Holton contend if Florida State is allowed to ignore the donor agreements it also must return $18.5 million earmarked for the building to a laboratory fund established from $210 million in royalties the school has received from the cancer drug Holton developed, synthetic Taxol.
“That’s university money,” said Brooks Keel, Florida State’s associate vice president for research. “It’s under the control of the president.”
Holton personally earned $140 million from his innovation and used part of that sum to set up the research foundation.
A judge last month sent the lawsuit into mediation that is scheduled for Jan. 26-27. Wetherell said in his statement, however, that efforts to reach a compromise have failed because Holton’s “demands remain onerous.”
Until Wednesday’s announcement, Florida State officials had argued that Holton was entitled at best to return of the $5 million 2002 contribution because the 1999 agreement accompanying the $6 million donation lacks specific requirements.
Kirby Kemper, Florida State’s vice president for research, said synthetic organic chemistry had been dominant in the battle against cancer 10 years ago but no longer.
“Science changes at the speed of light, and today other fields of chemistry now offer a much broader range of approaches to fighting cancer and other diseases,” he said in the university’s statement.
Devine responded that the nation’s top chemistry departments are strong in synthetic organic chemistry while Florida State remains weak in the field with only four faculty members including Holton. Florida State, however, cannot attract top-notch synthetic organic chemists because it lacks proper facilities, he said.
Robert Holton’s MDS Research Foundation donated the money with conditions that the building focus heavily on his specialty: synthetic organic chemistry.
The foundation sued the university last year after Florida State President T.K. Wetherell decided instead to construct a general chemistry building costing in excess of $55 million. University officials say Holton’s vision was too expensive, costing about twice that amount including endowed faculty chairs and research expenses.
“No professor has the right to create a shrine to his own research area with public funds,” Wetherell said in the university’s statement.
The offer to return MDS donations of $6 million given in 1999 and $5 million in 2002 will not be excepted nor will it end the lawsuit that seeks to enforce requirements attached to the gifts, said foundation president Mike Devine.
“Returning half a loaf is not good enough,” Holton said in a statement. “Our goal was to do something world class, and it turned into something mediocre.”
MDS and Holton contend if Florida State is allowed to ignore the donor agreements it also must return $18.5 million earmarked for the building to a laboratory fund established from $210 million in royalties the school has received from the cancer drug Holton developed, synthetic Taxol.
“That’s university money,” said Brooks Keel, Florida State’s associate vice president for research. “It’s under the control of the president.”
Holton personally earned $140 million from his innovation and used part of that sum to set up the research foundation.
A judge last month sent the lawsuit into mediation that is scheduled for Jan. 26-27. Wetherell said in his statement, however, that efforts to reach a compromise have failed because Holton’s “demands remain onerous.”
Until Wednesday’s announcement, Florida State officials had argued that Holton was entitled at best to return of the $5 million 2002 contribution because the 1999 agreement accompanying the $6 million donation lacks specific requirements.
Kirby Kemper, Florida State’s vice president for research, said synthetic organic chemistry had been dominant in the battle against cancer 10 years ago but no longer.
“Science changes at the speed of light, and today other fields of chemistry now offer a much broader range of approaches to fighting cancer and other diseases,” he said in the university’s statement.
Devine responded that the nation’s top chemistry departments are strong in synthetic organic chemistry while Florida State remains weak in the field with only four faculty members including Holton. Florida State, however, cannot attract top-notch synthetic organic chemists because it lacks proper facilities, he said.
$10 Million
Ghazvini Family
$7 Million
Nancy and Bob Dedman
Nancy Dedman (and deceased husband, Bob) gave $7 million to COB
DONATION REVOKED BY TK WETHERELL
$7 Million
TK Wetherell
Donation of his farm valued at $7 Million. Went to 'scholarships.'
At the time of the 2003 announcement, it was reported that upon receipt, the gift would provide for:
- the construction of a scholarship house at the Southern Scholarship Foundation to be named The Wetherell Family House and endowed scholarships that will support eligible students for that house by providing their tuition and fees;
- support for the construction of the Alumni Center;
- endowment of a new, innovative Westcott Scholars Program;
- support for FSU graduate fellowships;
- and endowment of a Wetherell Family Scholarship Fund, which will provide athletic scholarships to be split equally between male and female students.
$5 Million
William Hold and Anne Hamilton
$5 million to the COB.
$3 Million
Charlotte Maguire,
an FSU Foundation Board of Trustees member, gave $3 million to the FSU College of Medicine
$2 Million
George Langford
He and his wife, Marian, also have donated a million dollars to FSU's classics department, another million to the law school and more money to the school's World War II institute
Aside from donating some of his own money, Langford helped the department get out of debt by raising money for Seminole Boosters Inc., and helped turn the booster club into a modern nonprofit organization.
nonprofit organization.
a Tallahassee businessman, accepted FSU President Stanley Marshall's fund-raising challenge in 1974. He became a founding father of the current Seminole Boosters and one of the university's most prominent benefactors.
Yet there are several deceased (like Godfrey Smith and Pat Smith: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/tallahassee/obituary.aspx?pid=125334575) and anonymous donors (see example: http://coss.fsu.edu/inaprog/content/fsu-center-advancement-human-rights
) who have given generously to Florida State academics that were not mention in this thread. Also, planned gifts (realized upon death) are very popular. You will likely hear less PR about these gifts, but many are huge and will make a major impact.
Lastly, I know off the top of my head of three still living individual academic donors (not to bother mentioning corps), who have given at least $5 million to academic programs at Florida State, who I believe went unmentioned. (At least one has also given a lot through the Boosters). Existing donors are often an institution's best prospects so here's a quick shout of thanks to some not earlier mentioned...
Nancy Dedman (and deceased husband, Bob) gave $7 million to COB
William Hold and Anne Hamilton gave $5 million to the COB.
Jan Moran (and deceased husband Jim) gave multiple six and seven figure gifts
As an example: https://www.fsu.edu/news/2008/08/06/moran.gift/
Then you have a large group of still living people who have given a total of somewhere between $1 and $5 million to FSU academics. Many have also given a lot through the Boosters:
Tillie Allen (and deceased spouse, EC) fall into this category
Maggie and Robert Allesee
Lou Bender
Mary Champion (and deceased husband, John)
Carl Desantis
David Ford
John and Terry Frost
Priscilla Greenfield (and deceased husband, Arnold).
Mart Hill (and deceased husband, Louis).
Mark and Nan Hillis.
Wayne and Pat Hogan.
Reid Hughes.
Erwin and Stefanie Jackson
Joy Jinks
Terri Jo Kennedy (and deceased former husband, Dempsey Barron).
Bob and Sharon Kerrigan
Payne Midyette
Russ and Genie Morcom
Jim and Linda Owens
Tom and Elizabeth Petway
Marjorie Rendina (and deceased husband, Bruce).
Jim and Betty Ann Rodgers
Bob and Pam Sasser
Geraldine Schuler (and deceased spouse, John).
Sandra Schultz
Cynthia Jo Schumacher
Gus and Frances Stavros
Jeff and Agnes Stoops
Some of note potential BIG money (say north of $5 Million...truly, in higher ed, 'big' should be more like north of $10-$25...but):
BILLIONAIRES
Sarah Blakely (billionaire)
Harry Sargeant (billionaire)
EXECUTIVES
CEO Bob Sasser
Dollar Tree Inc. President and
Net sales, however, more than doubled to $4.95 billion
John Culver
group president, Starbucks Coffee China and Asia Pacific, Channel Development and Emerging Brands
From 2009 to 2011, he served as president of Starbucks Coffee International (SCI),
Todd Combs
a potential successor of Warren Buffett as the chief investment officer of Berkshire Hathaway.
"and Florida State University even managed to insult him by saying they would only have a picture “if he’d done something important.” You’ve got to laugh at that."
FSU ATHLETES WHO MADE APPROX $50-$100 Million:
*Derrick Brooks (sat on FSU's BOT)
*Charlie Ward
*Deion Sanders
*Sam Cassell
*Jamies Winston (on the way to)
*Buster Posey (on the way to)
General
27 Number of billionaires residing in Florida
31,000 Size in acres of Avalon plantation near Tallahassee owned by Ted Turner, CNN founder, whose net worth is $1.9-billion.
UF Large donations
$50 Million in 2015 for College of Engineering
$75 Million in 2014 for UF research
$12.5 Million in 2014
$20 Million in 1991 for library system
$5 Million in 2014 for child education
$10 Million (plus) in 1999 for law
$30 Million in 2007 for COB
Miami Large donations
$55 Million for Med School
$100 Million for Med School
RANDOM THOUGHTS
*I am sure I am missing some, let me know, I'll edit
*I note athletes, but if they donate, it seems more often for athletics and not academics and usually not major (as defined above...no insult intended)
*I don't note this to facilitate 'shaming'. I really hate when folks shame those with money on this topic not my intention. I try to just limit to appreciating those who do give.
*"General" is noted above because, while not highly likely, living in a state with so many billionaires, there is a chance you could land one or two as an unconnected champion ala George Langford/Al Dunlap. IMHO, an untapped source FSU hasn't capitalized on.
*I generally believe FSU has failed to land major donors (until recently) to the point it is almost not statistically possible. If you look at other schools....big names and small, just by chance you are likely to land a big fish. It has been a perfect storm of bad luck almost for FSU.
That said, I believe FSU has rarely hired the leadership that can compete at this level. I am hopeful Tom Jennings is about to change that....but FSu leadership has been weak in the past demanding accountability and expect results/production.
*I have long felt FSU has failed to be wise with many of these donors. For example. Sarah Blakely is very generous and spefic to her causes (women's issues). Establish something like a women's entrepreneurship program in her name WITHOUT a donation from her.......her name alone is worth a TON and perhaps some day, she will donate to it. But either way, a win for FSU and it shows here FSU shares some of her values.
I think something similar to Todd Combs would be worth while. His name tied to FSU and it's tie to Warren Buffett has to be worth something.
FSU has not had success with past methods....perhaps more out of the box ones would work? Either way, I think FSU HAS to question it's past methods and leadership in these areas.
*Sadly, it seems FSU is WAY too focused on athletics when it comes to these large donors. I love athletics, but without high quality academic programs, you don't produce donors who can give to athletics. It is a win for everybody if you have academic colleges back by transformational gifts.
*Looking at FSU gifts to say UF/UM......there is a massive difference (until recent $100 million gift). The good news is, FSU does well with a broader, smaller gift, base.
*Perhaps biggest issue is not enough 'transformational gift'....something that sets a college up at an elite level. A single college getting a $10-$100 million gift (honestly, in today's dollar, I think the amount is more like $25-$100) which sets that college up as a player.
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