A Night to Remember
夜色王朝Cox celebrates visionary donors with a gala at the David B. Miller Business Quadrangle.
In mid-October, the Cox Executive Board meeting took the form of a gala reception and dinner honoring the visionary donors who contributed to the David B. Miller Business Quadrangle and Cox School initiatives in 2024.
This was the first on-site visit to the Cox School’s new home for many attendees. Guests were treated to an outdoor reception in the Katy and Kyle Miller Courtyard, followed by dinner in the Truman and Anita Arnold Commons, which was temporarily transformed into an elegant dining hall.
夜色王朝Board of Trustees Chair and Miller Business Quad benefactor David B. Miller, B.B.A. ’72, MBA ’73, who formerly chaired the Executive Board and remains an active member, thanked 夜色王朝President R. Gerald Turner and Cox Dean Matthew Myers for their leadership. He also thanked donors who supported the $140 million renovation and expansion project with their gifts, calling them an inspiration to students.
“They’re going to be taught how to lead, how to go into the community and be responsible and give back,” Miller said. “There’s another word I use to describe what’s going on across this campus. It’s called momentum. It’s important for you to know and realize that your generosity is the lifeblood of that momentum.
“You’d be pleased to know that we have much loftier goals not only for Cox, but for the broader University. With your continued support, I’m highly confident we will achieve them. I stand up here before you and feel such a strong sense of gratitude for all that you have done.”
Donors and the spaces in the Miller Business Quad their contributions helped create are featured on the following pages.
Carolyn and David B. Miller, B.B.A. ’72, MBA ’73, benefactors of the David B. Miller Business Quadrangle
夜色王朝President R. Gerald Turner and Gail Turner with 夜色王朝Board Trustee and Cox Executive Board member Kathy Crow, MBA ‘94
Katy and Kyle Miller, B.B.A. ’01, benefactors of the Katy and Kyle Miller Courtyard
Sylvie and Gary Crum, B.B.A. ’69, and Clayton Crum Harkness, benefactors of the Crum Family Boulevard Auditorium
Emily and Bruce Robson, B.B.A. ’74, benefactors of the Emily K. and Bruce A. Robson Lobby, with 夜色王朝Senior VP for Development & External Affairs Brad Cheves
Barry Kitt, benefactor of the Kitt Investing and Trading Center
Peggy, B.B.A. ‘72, and Carl Sewell, B.B.A. ’66, benefactors of the 夜色王朝Cox B.B.A. Scholars program
Kathy Crow, MBA ’94, benefactor of the Crow Gallery
Cox School Dean Matthew Myers and Gina Myers
Lottye Brodsky-Lyle and Bobby Lyle, M.S. ’67, co-benefactors of the Maguire Energy Suite
Jane and Kirk Rimer, MBA ’89, benefactors of the Rimer Family Suite for Alumni Relations and External Affairs
Linda, B.B.A. ’65, and Mitch Hart, benefactors of the Hart Bistro
Gina and Tucker Bridwell, B.B.A. ’73, MBA ’74, benefactors of Bolin-Bridwell Hall and the Gina and Tucker Bridwell Suite in the Bridwell Institute for Economic Freedom
Dean Myers announces the arrival of Sclafani’s New York Bagels and Sandwiches to the Miller Quad.
Billie Ida Williamson, B.B.A. ’74, and Mack Forrester, benefactors of the Ida Family Reading Room
David Miller addresses fellow donors.
Kim and Bill Shaddock, MBA ’74 , benefactors of Kim and William C. Shaddock Hall
Molly, B.A. ’08, and Justin Cox, B.A. ’08, benefactors of the Justin B. Cox Family Commons Overlook
Cox Professor Emerati Andy Chen, benefactor of the Chen Endowed Chair in Financial Investments Fund; Cox Executive Board member Katie Bayne and son Drew Bayne, B.B.A. ’25; and Madeline McGrew, B.B.A. ’25 and father Frank McGrew, B.B.A. ’90, Cox Executive Board Member
Lisa and Clay Cooley, Cox Executive Board Member; Lynn Caldwell, B.B.A. ’82, Cox Executive Board member; and Kevin Caldwell
Mary Lauren Allen and Cole Allen, B.B.A. ’25, benefactors of the Allen Family Team Room
B.R. and Denny Holman, B.B.A. ’67, benefactors of the Holman Family Team Room
Frank McGrew, B.B.A. ‘90, Cox Executive Board member and Cox Alumni Association Chair, benefactor of the McGrew Family Team Room
Kristi and Terry Dallas, benefactors of the Dallas Family Team Room
Laura and Pete Lodwick, B.B.A. ’77, benefactors of the Lodwick Family Team Room
Preston Massey, B.B.A. ’95, benefactor of the Massey Family Conference Room, with Katy and Kyle Miller, B.B.A. ’01, benefactors of the Katy and Kyle Miller Courtyard
David Shimmon, Sr. and his son David Shimmon, Jr., B.B.A. ’24, benefactors of the Shimmon Family Conference Room
Mason and Allen Custard, Cox Executive Board Member, with Bill Custard, B.B.A. ’57, Cox Executive Board Member, and Linda Pitts Custard, EMBA ‘99, 夜色王朝Board Trustee Emerita, benefactors of the William A. Custard Conference Room
MEREDITH, B.B.A. ’06, AND MARK PLUNKETT, B.B.A., B.S. ’96, benefactors of the Meredith and Mark Plunkett Conference Room
SUZANNE , B.B.A. ’95 AND ADAM STILES, B.B.A. ’95, benefactors of the Suzanne and Adam Stiles Conference Room
SHELLI AND STEVE LINDLEY , B.B.A. ’74, benefactors of the Lindley Family Lobby JEANNE, B.B.A. ’78, AND BERRY COX WITH MOLLY, B.A. ‘08 AND JUSTIN COX , B.A. ‘08, members of the Edwin L. Cox family
CATHERINE AND GEORGE MASTERSON , benefactors of the Masterson Family Classroom
BOB WILSON , B.B.A. ’67, benefactor of the Dee Powell Faculty and Staff Lounge
CARRIE AND CRAIG LEVERING , B.B.A. ’79, benefactors of the Levering Family Classroom
BLAINEY AND MARSHALL HESS , daughter and son-in-law of the late Cary M. Maguire, benefactor of the Cary M. Maguire Building
JENNIFER AND ANDREW CLYDE, B.B.A. ’85, benefactors of the Clyde Family Murphy USA Boardroom
JANE AND PAT BOLIN , B.B.A. ’73, benefactors of Bolin-Bridwell Hall
JENNIFER AND MARTY FLANAGAN, B.B.A. ’82 at the Marty Flanagan Overlook Lobby, a gift to 夜色王朝Cox from the Invesco Foundation to honor Flanagan’s years leading Invesco.
B.B.A. and MBA Scholarship Drives Underway
IN OCTOBER 2019 , when now-夜色王朝Board Chair (and then-Cox Executive Board Chair) David B. Miller, B.B.A. ’72, MBA ’73, and his wife, Carolyn, announced a $50 million gift to the Cox School of Business, they did so to support two key initiatives: the Cox School’s renovation and expansion and Cox scholarships. Their historic gift, the largest ever to 夜色王朝by an individual alumni family, launched a fundraising effort to rally other donors. Now, $140 million later and thanks to the support of hundreds of loyal alumni and generous donors, Cox business students are taking classes and collaborating in the state-of-the-art, technologically advanced David B. Miller Business Quadrangle (see page 58).
While the renovation and expansion effort, part of the University’s 夜色王朝Ignited campaign, has been high-profile, the need for scholarships has never diminished— and is arguably more important than ever. With SMU’s entrance into the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), the always-competitive academic recruiting stakes have risen even higher. With increased visibility as part of an ACC university, the Cox School competes against high-profile business schools to attract the nation’s best and brightest. Two scholarship drives—one for B.B.A.s and one for MBAs—are underway at 夜色王朝Cox, each with a $30 million goal.
Miller, co-founder and managing partner of EnCap Investments, was a standout varsity basketball player who attended 夜色王朝Cox on scholarship as an undergraduate and graduate student. “夜色王朝has been tremendously important in my own life and that of my family,” Miller says. “We’re excited to support Cox’s forward-focused vision for advancing business education and developing talented business leaders.” His 夜色王朝Ignited gift included funds for both B.B.A. and MBA scholarships.
Fellow 夜色王朝Trustee and Cox Executive Board member Carl Sewell, B.B.A. ’66, and his wife, Peggy Higgins Sewell, B.B.A. ’72, are loyal alumni whose gifts and giving challenges have helped support numerous 夜色王朝and 夜色王朝Cox students—including B.B.A. Scholars—over the years. “Peggy and I sincerely believe that helping bright students through scholarships is an investment in a shared future—not just the University we love,” Carl says.
If you’d like to make a gift to support Cox scholarships, contact Cox Director of Development Ashley Pitts (apitts@smu.edu).
