University of North Texas Athletics
Alumni Make Program-Changing Gifts To North Texas Athletics
10/15/2015 12:00:00 AM | Mean Green Athletic Fund
Denton, Texas-- In recent months three individuals have committed gifts totaling over $6 million to the North Texas Athletics department, funding improvements in nearly every sport and greatly enhancing the future of Mean Green student-athletes and facilities. Saturday, Athletic Director Rick Villarreal, honored the three donors by announcing they would be named to the Fred McCain Athletic Circle of Honor, an affiliate wing of the UNT Athletic Hall of Fame, created to recognize individuals that have made program-changing gifts or contributions to the Mean Green.
This year's inductees included:
Bruzzy Westheimer, class of 1965, President and CEO of the Jerome Family Foundation and President of Valbel West Corporation, an oil and gas production company, both located in Ardmore, Okla. Westheimer has made several gifts to North Texas for academic endowments and university projects, including $500,000 in scholarships to aid students in the School of Visual Arts and Design and The School of Music.
Saturday, Westheimer was formally recognized for his $1 million commitment to the Mean Green Golf program. The gift is largely funding a new golf practice facility currently under construction at the Meridoe Country Club in Carrolton, Texas. This state-of-the-art facility will be among the best practice and playing venues in the country. It provides a much needed home to advance our already nationally recognized golf programs. It will also assist in procuring new travel vans, electronic technology and other aids to these teams.
Next was Jim McNatt, class of 1966, a long time native and businessman of Denton. A 1966 graduate of the School of Business, McNatt is the Vice-President of McNatt Properties, a real estate and construction management group. Recently Mr. McNatt announced gifts totaling $2.6 million, with $1.35 million going to advance academic initiatives such as the Institute of Logistics, the Kristin Farmer Autism Center and National Merit Scholars.
Saturday, it was announced that McNatt gave $1.25 million unrestricted gift to athletics. Major projects funded from this gift will be the conversion of the current football team room to an athletic auditorium and renovation of the football locker room and players' area. It will also touch the Academic Center and a new tennis project to be announced in the near future.
The final inductee was Brint Ryan, Class of 1988. Ryan is the highly respected and recognized Chairman and CEO of Ryan LLC, a leading international tax firm located in Dallas which he formed after graduating from North Texas in 1988. He was appointed to the Board of Regents in 2009 and currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Regents for the UNT system. He was named Accounting Alumnus of the Year in 1997, received the Outstanding Alumnus Service Award in 2003 and was presented the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2009. In addition to the many hours he gives through, Mr. Ryan has supported numerous activities and initiatives of the University.
Saturday Ryan was honored for the gift that was consummated in the fall of 2014 to support basketball enhancement projects including the new center hung scoreboards and sound system in the Super Pit, the refurbishment of the playing surface and the renovation of several areas including the basketball practice facility.
Previous inductees into the Circle of Honor include C. Dan Smith, Ernie Kuehne and George Dunham.
