$1.3 million gift to support athletics, business at Texas State

By Mark Hendricks
University News Service
February 16, 2008

A gift of $1.3 million to Texas State University-San Marcos from a San Antonio alumnus to support the Department of Athletics and the McCoy College of Business Administration has been announced by Texas State President Denise M. Trauth.

The donation, made by San Antonio businessman Darren Casey, will be split between the two Texas State entities with $1 million earmarked for the athletic program and $300,000 for a professorship in the McCoy College of Business Administration.

“I am proud to be able to make this donation to Texas State,” said Casey. “The university was a very important part of my life, and it remains that today. It afforded me opportunities for success and achievement in life.”

The $1 million gift to Bobcat athletics is the largest gift ever made to the university’s athletic program. Director of Athletics Larry Teis expressed his appreciation for the gift.

“We are very grateful to Mr. Casey. His generosity is going to make a difference in Texas State athletics. This sets the stage for the direction we want to move in making our program the very best it can be,” said Teis.

Denise Smart, dean of the McCoy College at Texas State, said, “Mr. Casey’s gift will help the McCoy College continue to move forward. Our goal is to offer academic programming that is second to none in the nation, and the generosity of alumni like Mr. Casey helps enormously in that regard.”

Casey said he hoped his gift would benefit current students and the future of the university.

“I believe that, as an alumnus, it is important for me to give back to the university to help support its programs and students. I hope that my gift will encourage others to do the same,” Casey said. “In today’s world economy, it is important to our nation and state to educate our young people to the highest degree if we are going to remain competitive.”

Casey graduated from Texas State in 1981 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He is president of Darren Casey Interests, Inc., a privately held company incorporated in 1991. He also owns Baxter Southwest Corporate Real Estate.

As a student at Texas State, he was involved with the Associated Student Government, a member of the Student Foundation, president of Kappa Sigma fraternity, a member of the Order of Omega Greek honor society and a Strutter manager. He is the past chairman of the Texas State Management and Marketing Department’s Advisory Council, and currently sits on the McCoy College of Business Advisory Board.