Dr. Robert G. Burton Sr., an alumnus of Murray State University, has made a gift of $250,000 to complete the construction of Hall of Champions.
The 2,300-s.f. facility, "The Burton Family Hall of Champions", that is scheduled to open in the summer of 2015 will showcase the university's great collegiate athletics history. The Hall will also highlight men's and women's sports programs including football and basketball, championship teams, All-American players and Hall of Fame members.
"This gift will allow Racer athletics to fulfill a long-time dream of centralizing our recognition areas and displaying the long and distinguished history of our programs," said Allen Ward, director of athletics. "I am indeed grateful to Dr. Burton and the Burton family for their generosity and support," Lanereport reports.
Burton was captain of the 1962 football team and was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers. He has been recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus, awarded Golden Horseshoe award and member of the Racer Athletics Hall of Fame. Currently, the formal NFL player serves as the chairman and chief executive officer of Cenveo, Inc., a multi-billion dollar company.
Burton, a nationally recognised collegiate football player, is the recipient of two honorary doctorates in business from the University of Connecticut and Murray State University. He also earned a master of arts degree from MSU.
Murray State's men's and women's athletic teams are known as the Racers, with the exception of the baseball team which is known as the Thoroughbreds. The University is particularly famous for its men's basketball program, which has made 15 appearances in the NCAA Tournament, most recently in 2012.
