Alums Donate Funds for Garden Clock

By Twila Leverton/Staff Writer
The Huntsville Item

In an effort to give back to Sam Houston State University, a College Station alumnus recently donated $30,000 to fund the purchase of a large clock to be located in the new alumni garden area.

The garden is located near the Bobby K. Marks Administration Building and the Lowman Student Center. Officials hope the clock will be complete and dedicated by November.

When Ruth and Ron Blatchley received an alumni garden brochure in the mail last year, it sparked their interest to purchase a $5,000 granite bench for the garden, said Kevin Hayes, director of alumni relations. When the idea of a clock for the garden was mentioned, the Blatchleys were even more interested, he said.

The Blatchleys decided the clock would be an appropriate donation and a way to give back to the university. Ron received his bachelor's degree from SHSU in 1968 and received a master's degree in physical education in 1969.

The Blatchleys were neighbors of Nancy and James Gaertner, university president, while James and Ron were students at SHSU. In April 2002, the Blatchleys and Gaertners were reunited at a president's reception in College Station. The Blatchleys explained their excitement about what Gaertner is doing for the growth of SHSU.

The clock will help beautify the alumni garden and will symbolize how alumni support SHSU, Hayes said.

"We hope and encourage other alumni to give back to their university," he said. "It's so vital to protect the heritage of the university as it moves onto the future."

Contributing to the university is important for prospective and current SHSU students and for corporations searching for employees, he said.

"It's important for students to see the high percentage of alumni who support the university," Hayes said. "And, corporations look at the amount of alumni support to recruit employment. It's a win-win situation."

SHSU officials have not decided on a company from which to purchase the clock, but hope to have it installed and dedicated at homecoming events in November.

The SHSU Alumni Association is hoping to gain a bell tower for the alumni plaza area as well. However, officials are searching for a donor who would provide funds for the purchase of the $100,000 tower.

Ronny Carroll, an alumni board member and Houston resident, proposed that a bell tower be created in the alumni area. The proposed bell tower would be near the alumni fountain and would have similar architectural features of Old Main, the second oldest building on the SHSU campus, which was destroyed by a fire. The tower would also be the new location of the university chimes which ring every hour.

"The bell tower would add something very pleasing to the university," Carroll said. "It's a way to let students and other alumni know we are active and we love Sam Houston. We want our presence known on campus."

Carroll hopes other alumni will become involved as well.

"Any way they can support the university with gifts or contributions is essential," he said. "We really want more alumni to be involved."

Officials say they hope the bell tower will be in place by 2004, which marks the 125th year of SHSU.

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SHSU Media Contact: Frank Krystyniak
March 18, 2003
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