WICHITA FALLS, Texas - Midwestern State alumni Hollis R. and Donna Sullivan announced a $1 million dollar gift allocated solely for athletics during a luncheon Monday afternoon at the Clark Student Center.

"The gift could not have come at a better time because of the renovation of the coliseum and the necessity of setting back funds for future scholarships," MSU President Dr. Jesse Rogers said.

The gift is the largest in the history of Midwestern State Athletics.

"Athletics is a big draw to the university," Hollis Sullivan said. "Hopefully this will help the school we continue to grow."

Sullivan earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from MSU in 1979 and worked briefly for Cobra Oil before starting an oil business with his father. He formed Hollis R. Sullivan, Inc. in 1990.

"This is where I got started," he said. "I am a big fan of Wichita Falls and realize the importance MSU has in the community. I am really humbled to be able to do this."

The gift will allow a number of much needed, student-athlete friendly projects to come to fruition.

"We have a project, in Ligon Coliseum, that was tremendously underfunded and now because of Hollis and Donna, we will be able to provide part of the funding for a portion of the student athlete segment of the renovation," MSU Athletics Director Charlie Carr said.

The renovation of the 40-year-old D.L. Ligon Coliseum will expand the facility to accommodate Midwestern State's 12-sport athletic program which has grown substantially since the school became an NCAA Division II member institution in 1995.

"Athletics is also great business," Dr. Rogers said. "Many student-athletes have been afforded the opportunity to obtain a degree while playing the sport they love. I can't imagine Midwestern without the great athletic programs it has constructed throughout the years."

The gift will allow for growth in other important areas outside of the competition arena.

"The Sullivans are equally interested in a portion of their gift going to our life skills program that will provide resources and support for our many areas of student athlete development off the fields and courts," Carr said. "This will set us apart from other Division II schools as an integral part of a model program, providing all of our student-athletes great preparation for their future beyond graduation."

"We have had a number of people in this community step forward to provide funding for this project, and the Sullivan gift will turn some of our important student-athlete driven projects into reality."

The Sullivans are proud parents of a daughter, Lindsey, and two sons, Parker and Houston. Houston is a Dec. 2009 graduate of Midwestern State.

"This is of great significance because it demonstrates the progress Midwestern is making in athletics," Rogers said. "Hollis' willingness to trust us to use a gift of this magnitude is gratifying and encouraging."