RUSTON – The Davison family – beginning with Mr. and Mrs. Paul M. Davison and continuing with Mr. and Mrs. James E. Davison and their children – have long been one of Louisiana Tech University’s most generous, active, and impactful benefactors and advocates.
For three generations, the Davisons have provided exemplary leadership and support for Louisiana Tech University, the Louisiana Tech Alumni Association, and the Louisiana Tech University Foundation, and have contributed significantly to the institution’s performance, prestige, and competitiveness.
As a tribute to the tremendous contributions of the Davison family and in recognition of a legacy and tradition of support for Louisiana Tech that began with Mr. and Mrs. Paul M. Davison, Louisiana Tech President Les Guice and Athletics Director Tommy McClelland announced Thursday that the University is naming the new south end zone facility at Joe Aillet Stadium in honor of the Davison family.
The Davison Athletics Complex will be home to the Bulldog football program as the $20 million-plus facility closes in the south end of the stadium.
“Due to the continued support to the University and athletics department, we felt that naming our new south end zone building the Davison Athletics Complex would appropriately honor this family for their remarkable generosity and leadership,” said McClelland. “Their generosity helped give way to this extraordinary period of growth on the Louisiana Tech University Campus.”
The Davison family has created a strong foundation for numerous academic and athletic scholarship programs, and provided support for Louisiana Tech students competing and succeeding in the classroom, on the field and court, and in companies and organizations around the world. It has provided clear evidence of their commitment and loyalty to Louisiana Tech.
Providing decades of immeasurable service and generous financial support, the Davison family has contributed greatly to enhancing library collections, equipping laboratories and research facilities, assisting in recruiting faculty and staff, and contributing to major campus construction and enhancement projects.
Their impacts have also been felt far beyond the boundaries of the Louisiana Tech campus through involvement in civic planning and improvement, and support of cultural and artistic development. These commitments have been helpful in Louisiana Tech’s ability to establish strong relationships and partnership opportunities with communities and businesses throughout the State of Louisiana.
“The Davison family has been integral to building and advancing the traditions and achievements of Louisiana Tech, and supporting the academic, research, and athletic missions of the institution,” said Guice. “The naming of this facility in their honor is a testament to the strong foundation they have helped build for generations of Louisiana Tech students, as they compete and succeed in the classroom, on the field and court, and in companies and organizations around the world.”
James Davison and his son, Steve, are the only father-son duo to have both earned the Alumnus of the Year award. They both have served as the president of the University Foundation (Steve is current president) and were both recognized by their respective colleges as distinguished alumni. James also served as the president of the Alumni Association and is a member of the Hall of Distinguished Alumni and the LA Tech Athletics Hall of Fame. Steve also lettered for the Bulldog baseball team in the late 1980s. Jim and Margaret Davison and Todd Davison are directors of the University Foundation.
After breaking ground on the facility 14 months ago, Louisiana Tech officials said the facility will be operational by the home opener against Southern on Sept. 5. Currently, all exterior work is nearing completion including the installation of glass and doors while interior work is ongoing.
The month of July will see installation of the elevators, flooring and lockers.
“Louisiana Tech has always been an important part of our family,” said Steve Davison. “The opportunity to strengthen its athletic and academic programs as well as the students that benefit from them is something we have a passion for supporting. It’s an honor to have this amazing facility named for our family and to be a part of this outstanding institution.”
The Davison Athletics Complex is the centerpiece of Louisiana Tech’s "Quest for Excellence", a fundraising campaign that has already seen millions of dollars spent to upgrade and renovate facilities at baseball, softball, soccer, tennis, basketball, and more. It signifies the University's commitment to putting a stronghold on its place as a top tier institution.
The three-story athletic facility will benefit all of Louisiana Tech's student-athletes as it includes a new state-of-the-art strength and conditioning complex utilized by all 16 of the University's athletic programs. The new weight room is more than twice the square footage of the existing one with double height space maximizing natural light, and it will include a field view of Joe Aillet Stadium as well as a supplement and nutrition bar.
The building will also house football coaches' offices, football locker room, team and position meeting rooms, club seating and a multi-functional dining space that can be utilized for athletic and campus events.
The second story of the facility includes the football coaches' offices as well as team and position meeting rooms. The 143-seat capacity, theatre-style meeting room includes state-of-the-art sound and video equipment and will be used for team meetings as well as athletic department press conferences and other events.
The club level includes luxury premium seating options with 302 chair back seats, multi-functional dining space seating up to 360, a private dining room with field view, and a full service commercial kitchen. The entire club level has already been sold out for the 2015 football season, generating more than $500,000 in additional revenue for the University and athletic department. This area will also be utilized for campus, student and community events.
For three generations, the Davisons have provided exemplary leadership and support for Louisiana Tech University, the Louisiana Tech Alumni Association, and the Louisiana Tech University Foundation, and have contributed significantly to the institution’s performance, prestige, and competitiveness.
As a tribute to the tremendous contributions of the Davison family and in recognition of a legacy and tradition of support for Louisiana Tech that began with Mr. and Mrs. Paul M. Davison, Louisiana Tech President Les Guice and Athletics Director Tommy McClelland announced Thursday that the University is naming the new south end zone facility at Joe Aillet Stadium in honor of the Davison family.
The Davison Athletics Complex will be home to the Bulldog football program as the $20 million-plus facility closes in the south end of the stadium.
“Due to the continued support to the University and athletics department, we felt that naming our new south end zone building the Davison Athletics Complex would appropriately honor this family for their remarkable generosity and leadership,” said McClelland. “Their generosity helped give way to this extraordinary period of growth on the Louisiana Tech University Campus.”
The Davison family has created a strong foundation for numerous academic and athletic scholarship programs, and provided support for Louisiana Tech students competing and succeeding in the classroom, on the field and court, and in companies and organizations around the world. It has provided clear evidence of their commitment and loyalty to Louisiana Tech.
Providing decades of immeasurable service and generous financial support, the Davison family has contributed greatly to enhancing library collections, equipping laboratories and research facilities, assisting in recruiting faculty and staff, and contributing to major campus construction and enhancement projects.
Their impacts have also been felt far beyond the boundaries of the Louisiana Tech campus through involvement in civic planning and improvement, and support of cultural and artistic development. These commitments have been helpful in Louisiana Tech’s ability to establish strong relationships and partnership opportunities with communities and businesses throughout the State of Louisiana.
“The Davison family has been integral to building and advancing the traditions and achievements of Louisiana Tech, and supporting the academic, research, and athletic missions of the institution,” said Guice. “The naming of this facility in their honor is a testament to the strong foundation they have helped build for generations of Louisiana Tech students, as they compete and succeed in the classroom, on the field and court, and in companies and organizations around the world.”
James Davison and his son, Steve, are the only father-son duo to have both earned the Alumnus of the Year award. They both have served as the president of the University Foundation (Steve is current president) and were both recognized by their respective colleges as distinguished alumni. James also served as the president of the Alumni Association and is a member of the Hall of Distinguished Alumni and the LA Tech Athletics Hall of Fame. Steve also lettered for the Bulldog baseball team in the late 1980s. Jim and Margaret Davison and Todd Davison are directors of the University Foundation.
After breaking ground on the facility 14 months ago, Louisiana Tech officials said the facility will be operational by the home opener against Southern on Sept. 5. Currently, all exterior work is nearing completion including the installation of glass and doors while interior work is ongoing.
The month of July will see installation of the elevators, flooring and lockers.
“Louisiana Tech has always been an important part of our family,” said Steve Davison. “The opportunity to strengthen its athletic and academic programs as well as the students that benefit from them is something we have a passion for supporting. It’s an honor to have this amazing facility named for our family and to be a part of this outstanding institution.”
The Davison Athletics Complex is the centerpiece of Louisiana Tech’s "Quest for Excellence", a fundraising campaign that has already seen millions of dollars spent to upgrade and renovate facilities at baseball, softball, soccer, tennis, basketball, and more. It signifies the University's commitment to putting a stronghold on its place as a top tier institution.
The three-story athletic facility will benefit all of Louisiana Tech's student-athletes as it includes a new state-of-the-art strength and conditioning complex utilized by all 16 of the University's athletic programs. The new weight room is more than twice the square footage of the existing one with double height space maximizing natural light, and it will include a field view of Joe Aillet Stadium as well as a supplement and nutrition bar.
The building will also house football coaches' offices, football locker room, team and position meeting rooms, club seating and a multi-functional dining space that can be utilized for athletic and campus events.
The second story of the facility includes the football coaches' offices as well as team and position meeting rooms. The 143-seat capacity, theatre-style meeting room includes state-of-the-art sound and video equipment and will be used for team meetings as well as athletic department press conferences and other events.
The club level includes luxury premium seating options with 302 chair back seats, multi-functional dining space seating up to 360, a private dining room with field view, and a full service commercial kitchen. The entire club level has already been sold out for the 2015 football season, generating more than $500,000 in additional revenue for the University and athletic department. This area will also be utilized for campus, student and community events.
