Southern Methodist University (SMU) announced last Friday that alumni Bill and Liz Armstrong will donate $15 million to help the university fund its ongoing endzone complex project.
The $100 million state-of-the-art 192,500 square-foot facility expansion was jump-started in January by a $50 million donation from the Gary Weber Foundation, the largest single donation in SMU history.
“We’re proud to invest in the bright future of SMU Athletics, which brings the highest level of collegiate competition to Dallas and prepares student-athletes to be champions in their pursuits on the field and throughout their lives,” said Bill Armstrong.
“We are excited about the future of Mustang football and look forward to seeing how what happens on the field inspires great things in the lives of student-athletes and others in the years to come,” added Liz Armstrong.
The couple met while attending SMU in the 1980s. They graduated in 1982, got married in 1984, and went on to found an oil and gas exploratory company and a major wine label. They have been frequent supporters of SMU and have made several donations in the past to various SMU programs.
The Armstrong’s first committed money in 2011 to establish a new student residential facility and provided additional funding in 2018 to create the Armstrong Fieldhouse at the SMU Indoor Performance Center. The family also funds the Armstrong Visiting Artist-in-Residence in Ballet at the Meadows School of the Arts for the 2020-21 year.
In all, the Armstrong family has donated some $30 million to the college, for which they were awarded the Distinguished Alumni award in 2021.
“Bill and Liz Armstrong’s continuing dedication to initiatives across campus is an inspiration to our faculty, staff and students,” said SMU President R. Gerald Turner.
Once completed, the endzone complex project will house facilities for athletes while enhancing the experience for fans who attend games at Gerald J. Ford Field.
The current design features a three-level building that connects the existing East and West gates with a new concourse and advanced facilities for student-athletes.
Among the additions will be a new weight room, new team locker rooms, meeting rooms, and kitchen facilities for the campuses near 500 athletes.
Groundbreaking is expected for December 2022.