Mackey Renovations: Trustee gifts $3 million to project

It was recently announced a Board of Trustees member donated $3 million to the Mackey Arena expansion and renovation project.

1961 Purdue graduate and Board of Trustees member Tom Spurgeon donated $3 million to the project. Spurgeon, former president and CEO of Lincoln Office, remains a consultant for the company after selling the venture in 2001. As an entrepreneur, he also built several companies.

Spurgeon considers himself a Purdue supporter, not just a supporter of the Mackey renovations.

“It’s not just Mackey; it’s Purdue,” Spurgeon said.

Spurgeon was the lead donor of Purdue’s indoor golfing facility, which is named after him. In addition, Spurgeon has made donations to several other Purdue facilities. He also was a member of the steering committee, which was a part of Purdue’s campaign to raise $1.5 billion.

The Mackey renovation, which is scheduled to be complete before the start of 2011-2012 basketball season, will provide a complex with exceptional athletic and academic facilities. In addition, fan-seating and ticket offices will be improved.

“We are providing a learning center. They give a lot of time and practice, and they also need a place to study and are providing that,” Spurgeon said.

“We’re providing extra practice facilities. We’re providing extra weight-training. And all those things will enable us to be more competitive, but at the same time provide better facilities for the athletes.”

Bob Holloway, a 1948 Purdue graduate, also donated to the Mackey Project Tuesday in the form of $2 million. Over the weekend, five donors contributed $1 million each to the project as well.

Article appeared in the 1/23/08 issue of the Purdue Exponent.