Laurie Family Recognized at Arena Reception
12/18/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 18, 2001
Columbia, Mo. - The University of Missouri recognized Columbia businessman Bill Laurie, along with his wife Nancy and daughter Paige, as the family responsible for the $25 million donation that kickstarted the successful push for a new basketball arena at Mizzou.
Laurie was honored Tuesday morning at a private reception held at the Reynolds Alumni Center. Approximately 100 people were in attendance, including many state legislators, public officials, University administrators and members of the media.
The Lauries' gift of $25 million is the largest single donation in Univeristy of Missouri history, nearly three times that of the previous record. Bill Laurie was praised by MU Chancellor Richard Wallace, and Athletic Director Mike Alden, for his generosity and vision surrounding the project, which will give Mizzou Basketball a state of the art $75 million arena when completed in time for the 2004-05 season.
"On behalf of our family, we are very proud and honored to be a part of this project," Bill Laurie said. "This was a family discussion. This was a family decision on this gift."
"We have the ability to have one of the top five buildings in the country," Laurie said.
The Lauries are providing $25 million for the $75 million facility. The state is providing $35 million in bonds and the MU Athletic Department will provide $15 million for the project.
"Without the Lauries' gift, our only alternative would have been second class," university Chancellor Richard Wallace said of the arena. "We now have the opportunity to publicly thank the Laurie family for their wonderful generosity."
"We are so very greatful for the generosity of the Laurie family," said Director of Athletics Mike Alden. "A gift of this magnitude is energizing for everyone involved in Mizzou Athletics, and we will look forward to producing one of the top facilities in the nation, not only for our student-athletes, but for our students, our alumni and our fans," he said.
