Samford University’s Brock School of Business announced the launch of a campaign to build a new state-of-the-art business school on Samford’s campus.
The campaign was announced April 26 with the pledge of a $12.5 million gift from Birmingham insurance executive Gary Cooney, a 1974 Samford graduate.
Cooney — vice chairman of McGriff, Seibels and Williams, Inc. — said he wants the building to become a reality as soon as possible to honor the business school’s namesake, retired Birmingham banker and Samford trustee Harry B. Brock Jr.
“I don’t want to see us pass this opportunity and not allow [Brock] to see that building finished,” Cooney said. “I want him to be the guy that gets to cut the ribbon when it is finished.
“We offer something at Samford that is difficult to find anywhere else in the world,” Cooney added. “This city and this university have the chance to add a crown jewel that will attract businesses and will attract students.”
Samford President Andrew Westmoreland expressed appreciation to Cooney for his pledge and his involvement in Samford.
“I want you to know the depth of my appreciation to you on behalf of everyone at Samford University,” Westmoreland said. “We love you and are grateful beyond measure to you.”
Westmoreland called the building a “new beginning” for Samford and the business school.
“My favorite thing about a university is that it is a place of beginnings,” he said. “[The faculty] have pledged their lives to this place because they want to assist with those beginnings. Every single day it is about beginnings. This will allow us more new beginnings.”
The new building will be located to the north of Harwell G. Davis Library and to the east of Mamie Mell Smith Residence Hall. It will include a community resource forum that can hold up to 400 people, classrooms with interactive breakout rooms, the student business incubator and the Bulldog Investment Fund room.
“This is a transformational opportunity to invest in our current students and in future students for generations to come, so that they receive the highest quality business education,” said Howard Finch, dean of the Brock School of Business.
Harry Brock Jr. also noted what a new building would mean to him and his family and the legacy he is leaving for the future.
“It goes without saying that the new building would be a big boost for our faculty and would help attract students,” Brock said. “Any time you have something this beautiful and nice, it helps the general community. Brick and mortar is where it starts. It’s a winner in almost every respect.”
The project is part of the university’s multiyear, multimillion dollar “Campaign for Samford.” The campaign already has received more than $158 million in gifts and pledges.
(SU)
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