University of North Texas Athletics
Fifty Years Of UNT Involvement Honored
6/20/2019 8:10:00 AM | General, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball
DENTON - Pat and Tom Klammer's involvement with the University of North Texas has lasted 50 years and has ranged from earning degrees at North Texas to teaching UNT students, from establishing scholarships in accounting and business to being season-ticket holders for Mean Green athletics. Their latest contribution is a gift for the basketball coaches' suite in the Super Pit.
The Pat and Dr. Tom Klammer Coaching Suite, located near Gate E on the Super Pit's concourse, was unveiled this spring at a dedication ceremony.
"We made our commitments because both Pat and I believed that it is critical for the future of UNT athletics to create multiple endowments for athletic scholarships as well as provide state of the art facilities for our student-athletes," Dr. Klammer said. "Athletics is a critical 'eye to the world' for UNT and can help this wonderful university achieve and maintain greatness."
"We are extremely grateful for the continued generosity and support of Tom and his late wife Pat," North Texas Vice President and Director of Athletics Wren Baker said. "Their long-time support of our student-athletes and coaches, and their belief in our mission to Build Champions and Prepare Leaders is inspiring and will provide continued opportunities for our student-athletes for years to come. We certainly miss Pat and her presence at our football and basketball contests, but are honored to see the Klammers' impact preserved publically with their most recent gift to name our basketball coaches' suite at the Super Pit."
Dr. Klammer was a UNT professor of accounting for 38 years, and Patricia Klammer earned her master's degree in accounting from UNT. Their son David received bachelor's and master's degrees in accounting from UNT, and their daughter Rachelle took graduate coursework in business at UNT before moving on to become a medical doctor.
A decade ago, Pat and Tom Klammer made a bequest to establish an endowed scholarship to fund scholarships for student-athletes who are accounting or business majors. They immediately began funding the scholarship rather than treating it as just a bequest. In 2016, soon after Pat was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, the bequest was expanded to provide funds for both scholarships and athletic facilities.
"As Pat's condition worsened, I began to consider naming opportunities that would honor her," Dr. Klammer said. "We have been football and basketball season-ticket holders since arriving at UNT in 1970. Pat loved attending both men's and women's basketball games. The naming of the basketball coaching suite seemed like something that Pat would truly appreciate. My hope was that she would have some understanding of what we were doing when I made the commitment. Unfortunately, Pat did not live to see the actual naming become a reality, but many of our extended family and special friends were able to celebrate in her name when the naming signage was unveiled.
Pat and Tom became football and basketball season-ticket holders in 1970 and added other sports over the years. Their support of UNT athletics extended to the Mean Green Scholarship Fund and capital campaigns.
Their Klammer Family Scholarship was created to provide ongoing financial support for students in two UNT areas that are of particular significance to the family: UNT Athletics and the Department of Accounting in the UNT College of Business.
