Umphreys make gift for Baylor stadium bridge

WACO—Baylor University has announced a major gift from Sheila and Walter Umphrey of Beaumont for Baylor Stadium, the university's proposed on-campus football stadium. The gift—which ranks among the top 10 capital gifts in university history and top five gifts in Baylor athletics history—will support construction of the Sheila and Walter Umphrey Bridge at Baylor Stadium, to be built over the Brazos River, connecting the new stadium with Baylor Law School and the Baylor campus.

The Umphreys' gift follows two other announced naming-rights gifts for Baylor Stadium. In March, Elizabeth and Drayton McLane Jr. and their family provided a leadership gift that began the ongoing fund-raising effort to support construction of Baylor Stadium. On May 9, John Eddie Williams' gift named the field John Eddie Williams Field at Baylor Stadium.

"Baylor University is making enormous strides, and we believe this new stadium will be a showpiece, reflecting the university's remarkable progress and its strong standing in higher education," Umphrey said. "It is an honor for Sheila and me to attach our name to this significant walkway that will call attention to the quality and competitiveness of both Baylor athletics and Baylor Law School. We're delighted to be a part of this important project with our dear friends John Eddie and Sheridan Williams."

"As a lifelong fan of football in Texas, it is exciting for me to be associated with the creation of the new Baylor Stadium and to do so in a manner that honors Walter's longstanding connection to the university and to his beloved Baylor Law School," Sheila Umphrey said.

"We are deeply appreciative of Sheila and Walter Umphrey's passion for returning Baylor football to campus and their generosity will help make that a reality," Baylor Director of Athletics Ian McCaw said.

With a successful spring fund-raising campaign, the stadium project could be completed in time for the opening game of the 2014 football season.