Baylor Regents Unanimously Approve Plans for $34 Million On-Campus Athletics and Academic Center.
2/9/2007 12:00:00 AM | General
Feb. 9, 2007
The Baylor University Board of Regents at its February meeting today approved plans to construct the Alwin O. and Dorothy Highers Athletics Complex and the Simpson Athletics and Academic Center, a $34 million complex that will integrate the Baylor athletics department and football program into the campus environment for the first time in the modern era.
"This is an exciting day for Baylor University athletics and for the entire Baylor family," said Baylor President John M. Lilley. "The Highers Athletics Complex and the Simpson Athletics and Academic Center have been the central focus of the `Victory with Integrity Campaign' for our athletics program and will allow us to advance an important element of Imperative 10 of Baylor 2012, the university's vision statement. These facilities will incorporate the Baylor athletics department and all student-athletes into a superior administrative, training and academic environment centrally located on our campus."
The lead gift for the privately funded project and the largest single gift in Baylor's history is from the estate of Alwin O. Highers Jr. of Alexandria, La. A native Texan and a 1939 Baylor business graduate, Mr. Highers was well known as the owner of Alexandria's Dr Pepper Bottling Co. He also was a dedicated supporter of Baylor athletics and in particular its football program, until his death in 2003. He is survived by his beloved wife, Dorothy, who still resides in Alexandria.
Ian McCaw, director of athletics at Baylor, said it is a "fitting tribute to Mr. Highers and his wife, Dorothy, to dedicate the resources of the Highers' estate to support this important project, the Highers Athletics Complex."
The Highers's also have been generous supporters of Baylor's Hankamer School of Business and the McLane Student Life Center.
The focal point of the Highers Athletics Complex will be the 96,300-square-foot Simpson Athletics and Academic Center, which will be built on University Parks Drive adjacent to Baylor's Mayborn Museum Complex and the university's other athletic facilities that are part of the Julie and Jim Turner Riverfront Athletic Complex on the Brazos River.
A Baylor University graduate and generous supporter of Baylor, Bob R. Simpson is a co-founder, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of XTO Energy Inc. of Fort Worth. His leadership at XTO has been recognized by numerous publications, including Barron's ("30 most respected CEO's in the world," March 27, 2006), Oil & Gas Explorer ("Executive of the Year," March 2006), Institutional Investor ("Best CEOs," January 2006), BusinessWeek ("The BusinessWeek Top 50 Performers," April 2006) and Forbes ("2,000 Leading Companies in the World," April 17, 2006), among others. During his tenure, XTO Energy has become the second largest natural gas producer in Texas and the eighth largest in the nation.
A Texas native and youngest of four brothers, Mr. Simpson grew up on a Cisco ranch and was salutatorian of his high school graduating class. He attended Baylor University for his entire collegiate experience, earning a bachelor's degree in accounting and finance, with magna cum laude honors, in 1970 and his MBA in 1971. Simpson served in the Texas Army National Guard after graduation and then earned his CPA designation. He is married to Janice Simpson and is the father of seven children.
The first floor of the Simpson Athletics and Academic Center will include functions that are currently housed at Floyd Casey Stadium, such as a main athletics training room, equipment room, football team locker room, coaches' locker room and weight room. Floor two will hold administrative offices, the football office and meeting rooms, as well as an academic center which will benefit all Baylor student-athletes.
The Highers Athletics Complex will include three football practice fields, two with a natural surface and the other with artificial turf. Construction of the facility will take approximately 18 months, with expected completion by summer 2008. Games will continue to be played at Floyd Casey Stadium.
"These facilities will make a dramatic impact on the football program and the experience of every Baylor student-athlete," McCaw said. "We are grateful to the Highers and Simpson families for providing the lead gifts that have allowed this project to become a reality."
"This is a great day for Baylor football. We deeply appreciate the Board of Regents, President Lilley, Ian McCaw, and especially the Highers' family and Bob Simpson for making this facility a reality," said Baylor head football coach Guy Morriss. "Moving our entire football operation to campus will be a tremendous benefit to Baylor football for many years to come and will have a positive impact in recruiting future student-athletes."
Facilities located on the proposed building site - the marina pool, Streich Tennis Courts and soccer field - might be relocated pending review as part of Baylor's strategic and master planning process.
