In early 2001, Jerry S. Rawls made a record-breaking $25 million gift to Texas Tech, officially renaming the Jerry S. Rawls College of Business. This marked the first college at Texas Tech to bear a namesake. At the time, Mr. Rawls’ gift was the largest single contribution by an individual ever made to Texas Tech University.

The gift not only gave the college its name but also established an enduring partnership with Rawls – a bond forged by a shared vision of excellence, achievement, and opportunity.

“I don’t think there is anything I could do – or any of my colleagues could do – that’s more important than investing in the young people of America, the young people of Texas, and making sure they have the same opportunities that I have,” said Rawls.

A Celebration of Excellence

This past January, more than 250 students, faculty, staff, donors, alumni, and university leaders gathered at the Rawls College of Business to celebrate the silver anniversary of Rawls’ gift.

The celebration highlighted former students whose lives changed through experiences at the Rawls College, faculty members and their research supported by Rawls’ generosity, donors motivated by his gift, and current students following the charge to instill a spirit of philanthropy among fellow classmates. 

Student Success and Faculty Support 

The most visible legacy of Rawls’ gift is found in the success of Rawls College graduates. Three Rawls College alumni – Kevin Hunstable, Meg Mooz, and Michael Babick – shared how the Rawls College shaped their paths to success.

A common theme emerged from these alumni speeches – one that emphasized the impactful professors who challenged, inspired, and prepared them to lead with confidence in their careers. Building on that message, Dean of the Rawls College of Business Margaret L. Williams, Ph.D., accentuated how the Rawls endowment has enabled the college to hire top-tier faculty, pointing out that student success doesn’t happen without faculty investment.

“You cannot attract top students without top faculty,” she said. “From the outset, the Rawls endowment was designed to help attract and retain top faculty through endowed chairs and professorships. Jerry’s example set the stage for many other generous donors to fund endowed chairs and professorships.”

With the support of these endowed positions, the Rawls College has attracted renowned scholars, including some of the most highly cited in their respective fields, and recruited sought-after faculty members from universities across the nation. The college now has 35 endowed faculty positions – 25 of those funded since 2000.

Associate Dean for Research and Outreach and Jerry S. Rawls Endowed Chair in Supply Chain Management Tingting Yan, Ph.D., spoke about faculty support, sharing that the endowment provided her with three essentials for high-impact research: time, connection, and resources.

“In less than three years, I have published 12 top-journal articles, among which eight have appeared in some of the most prestigious five-star journals,” she said. “I share this not as personal statistics, but more as evidence of the investment in research capacity and what [investing] can make possible.”

Rawls’ support of faculty extends far beyond research. Francisco Delgadillo, associate professor of practice of information systems and quantitative sciences, took the stage to represent the Jerry S. Rawls Distinguished Undergraduate Educator Award honorees. As one of the award’s first recipients in 2021, Delgadillo is among the 20 outstanding faculty and doctoral students who have been recognized for consistently going above and beyond to inspire students, challenge them to do their best, and prepare them for long-term success. The award has elevated the visibility of these exceptional educators who make the undergraduate classroom the focus of their passion and commitment.

Encouraging Philanthropy

Generosity multiplies. This is reflected in the many other individuals and families, inspired by Rawls, who have given to the college. In 2001, the overall college endowment totaled $15 million. It now exceeds $150 million – thanks to major donors who have named the centers, institutes, programs, and a school within the college.

Among them is accounting alumnus Terry Lyons, CEO of Academic Health Plans, Inc. and member of the Rawls College Advisory Council. Lyons spoke about the importance of investing in an institution that had first invested in him, ensuring future students would have even greater opportunities. That commitment led to the Lyons family gift that renamed the Lyons School of Accounting at the Rawls College.

“Yes, Jerry Rawls’ original gift absolutely played a key role in that decision,” Lyons said. “His leadership helped create a tradition of giving, one that continues to inspire families like mine to invest in the future of education at this college.” 

One of Rawls’ original goals for his gift was to instill in students the importance of giving back. Inspired by this vision, a team of students from the Scovell Business Leadership Program has taken the lead in encouraging a culture of giving among current students. This year, in partnership with the Rawls College Recent Alumni Board, the team will raise funds for the Rawls Student Support Fund through the TTU Day of Giving.

The team is inspired by Rawls’ belief that students who begin giving while in college are more likely to continue giving as alumni.

“We hope this campaign acts as a catalyst for fostering a culture of giving within Rawls, and eventually, across Texas Tech University as a whole,” the unit said. “By engaging students early and meaningfully, we aim to cultivate lasting connections that benefit both the students and the broader TTU community.” 

25 Years of Impact…and Counting

Before Rawls took the stage, Dean Williams called up his wife, Pam Rawls, for a surprise presentation. Though she did not attend Texas Tech, Pam’s support for the college has been felt every step of the way. In recognition of her dedication, she received a Rawls College of Business Honorary Alumni Award, recognizing her as a true Red Raider.

Turning the spotlight to Mr. Rawls, he shared his reflections on the college, its students, and the bright future ahead. Praising the type of leaders Texas Tech and Rawls College produces – students who outwork their competitors, strive for excellence, and bring an energy and enthusiasm that is contagious – he said the past 25 years have been rewarding, and reflected on what’s to come.

“I am a very proud Red Raider, I am very proud of the Rawls College of Business, and I am optimistic about our future,” he said.

Jerry S. Rawls’ gift transformed the college, leaving a lasting legacy that will continue to inspire students, faculty, and the entire Rawls College community for generations to come.

The Celebration Continued

At a dinner following the ceremony, current and former system and university leaders, family, and friends shared their thoughts on the meaning and impact of Rawls’ gift. These included Chancellor Brandon Creighton, President Lawrence Schovanec, John T. Montford, the inaugural chancellor of the TTU System, and David J. Schmidly, president of Texas Tech at the time of Rawls’ gift.