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It’s A Grand Slam!
A $1 million gift to SHSU from Houston entrepreneur and renowned philanthropist Don Sanders--- a member of the university’s Class of 1958---was officially recognized on this spring with the dedication of the Don Sanders Baseball Stadium.
Friends and family of Sanders were on hand to help celebrate the occasion, including baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan, former Texas governor Mark White, and former Astros player Terry Puhl.
“When we were looking into naming the baseball field, we had several criteria in mind,” head baseball coach Mark Johnson said.
“We wanted the person to be an alumnus of Sam Houston State, we wanted someone who was interested and involved in baseball, and we wanted someone with integrity, credibility and strong character to reflect what we want to do here for our baseball program,” he said. “Mr. Sanders was a perfect fit.”
The $5.5 million facility includes not only the stadium, but also spacious dressing areas, indoor hitting cages, lights, and coaches’ offices. It is the newest baseball complex in the Southland Conference.
Sanders is founder and chairman of the investment firm Sanders Morris Harris. He is a former owner of the Houston Sports Association and the Houston Astros Baseball Club and currently, along with Ryan, is co-owner of Ryan-Sanders Baseball. Ryan-Sanders Baseball owns the Astros' Class AAA Round Rock Express and Class AA Corpus Christi Hooks.
Sanders is a leading figure in Houston in a variety of civic, corporate and financial enterprises. His board affiliations include the Nolan Ryan Foundation, the DePelchin Children's Center, and the Houston Museum of Fine Arts. In 2001, he was named Houston Interfaith Charities' "Sportsman of the Year."
“Baseball is a big part of my life,” said Sanders. “I feel that the gift to Sam Houston State can have a substantial impact on the university and the baseball program not only today, but also in the future.”
Sanders also complimented the hiring of new SHSU head baseball coach Mark Johnson.
“The addition of Mark Johnson brings credibility to the baseball program,” said Sanders. “He is a class act for any university.”
University officials expressed great appreciation for Sanders’s donation.
“This generous gift will benefit the Bearkat baseball program for evermore,” said SHSU President Jim Gaertner. “It will also perpetuate the name of one of our most distinguished alumni.”
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