Gaylord donates $12 million to complete OU stadium project

<br>NORMAN, Okla. (AP) _ The publisher of The Daily Oklahoman newspaper is donating $12 million to complete the expansion of Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, OU President David Boren announced Friday. <br><br>The

Friday, September 6th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) _ The publisher of The Daily Oklahoman newspaper is donating $12 million to complete the expansion of Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, OU President David Boren announced Friday.

The gift from Edward L. Gaylord on behalf of the Gaylord family is the largest in the history of OU athletics, Boren said.

``Because of the generosity of the Gaylord family, we will be able to complete the expansion and restoration of Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in a manner that will make it a world-class facility,'' Boren said.

``We will also be able to fully complete the indoor athletic practice facility.''

Two years ago, the Gaylord family donated $22 million _ the largest single gift in OU history and the largest single gift to a public university in state history _ to fund a new journalism and mass communication building that enabled OU's School of Journalism to be elevated to college status.

``Along with many other donors, we are glad to help build a better stadium for OU,'' Gaylord said. ``President David Boren, with some of the best coaches in the country and the best athletic director, should provide an excellent future for the OU sports program.''

Boren also announced an additional gift by Christy and Jim Everest of Oklahoma City, which will enable the school to finish the indoor athletic practice facility that serves football, track, soccer and other sports. Christy Everest is Gaylord's daughter.

The $75 million stadium project, which is expected to be done in time for the 2003 season, will renovate all facility structures and amenities, replace current seating, and add new seating to bring capacity to more than 80,000.

``This extraordinary demonstration of commitment to the people of Oklahoma by Mr. Gaylord and the Gaylord family is truly inspiring,'' Athletic Director Joe Castiglione said.

``One of the 'core values' of our program is an appreciation for the characteristics which strengthen and bind a team or a family. In this case, it's a family that allows us to fulfill some of the great expectations we have for our athletic program and provide the appropriate resources for the student-athletes we serve.''