Texas Tech Athletics announced Friday a $5 million gift from Dallas businessman and alumnus John Billingsley and his wife Harriett earmarked specifically for the ongoing south end zone and Dustin R. Womble Football Center project.
Texas Tech announced in recent months it had surpassed the $100 million mark in charitable contributions, a key fundraising goal as part of the roughly $242 million project.
The gift from Billingsley pushed Texas Tech over that mark in recent months as the athletics department now has $103 million raised as part of its largest athletic facility investment in school history.
In recognition of his generous contribution, Texas Tech will name an iconic bell tower in the south end zone in honor of Billingsley.
“This is a monumental achievement as we celebrate John Billingsley and his family as well as all who have invested into the future of this athletics department,” Director of Athletics Kirby Hocutt said.
“We can’t be more appreciative of John for his loyalty and support in helping us surpass the $100 million mark.
As we look daily at the progress of this project, I firmly believe our best days are ahead thanks to the investment of so many great supporters.”
Billingsley, a West Texas native, is a 1961 graduate of Texas Technological College, now Texas Tech University.
After earning his degree in accounting, Billingsley launched businesses in Midland and went on to a lifetime of entrepreneurship.
In fact, over his illustrious career, Billingsley has become one of the top entrepreneurs in the country, building a largely successful and diverse business portfolio in fields such as accounting, banking, commercial real estate, farming, ranching, manufacturing, oil and gas, renewable energy and other disruptive and advanced technologies.
“I played high school football 40 miles from Lubbock. It has been a life-long passion as has giving back to my beloved West Texas region,” Billingsley said.
