Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones and his family, along with the Univ. of Arkansas, today announced a $10.65M donation in land and pledges to the school's athletic department, the second-largest grant in the school's history. Jones and his wife, Gene, pending a vote by the school's BOT this week, will get their names on a new student athlete center. Jones and his son, Cowboys COO & Exec VP Stephen Jones, will have their names on the stadium locker room. A school press release also noted the entrance lobby of the Student-Athlete Success Center will be named in honor of Gene's parents. Jerry, Gene and Stephen Jones each attended the school, with Jerry playing on the '64 nat'l championship football squad, the only one in school history. Stephen also played football there from '84-87. Two of Jerry's grandchildren currently attend the school.
SCHOOL TIES: Jerry Jones cited the education he received as the reason behind his largess. The lobby of the new $23M student athlete center, which is slated for ribbon cutting later this year, will include an exhibit featuring the Jones family and their educational journey through the university. Arkansas AD Jeff Long said conversations about the grant picked up steam recently after the 50th anniversary get-together of the '64 squad. Long said the school told those alumni it would like to build a monument to their achievement. Around $2M of Jones' grant is designated to build the 20-foot Wild Band of Razorbacks Monument. Most of the $8.65M grant comes from the appraised land value of 256 acres near the Fayetteville campus that Jones bought last year and is donating. The use of the land, which includes open lots and lightly wooded areas, is to be determined. The remainder of the grant he has agreed to pay over five years.
