Williams Foundation Commits $1 Million Towards DFS Renovation Campaign

GREENVILLE, N.C. – East Carolina University Athletics and the ECU Pirate Club have announced a $1 million leadership commitment from the Walter and Marie Williams Foundation. This gift supports the $55-million Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium Southside Renovation Campaign, targeted to be completed in the fall of 2018.

Long-time Greenville residents and loyal ECU Athletics supporters, Walter and Marie Williams' leadership gift will be recognized through the naming of the Indoor Hitting Facility at Clark-LeClair Stadium.

"There is no other couple that has devoted more heart and soul to Pirate Athletics than Walter and Marie Williams," ECU Director of Athletics Jeff Compher said. "This Southside Renovation Project is another opportunity for them to invest in the future of our athletics program and they have stepped up yet again! They are true examples of the impact that individuals can make in the success of our teams."

This facility will allow our teams to practice year round and prepare for national level competition and success. It also sends a message to our coaches that our donors are truly committed to building championship programs."

Pirate Club members since 1966, the Williams' have been part of multiple capital campaigns. The Williams' donated the Pirate Club's first-ever $1 million gift to the Shared Visions campaign in 1993. For their gift, the basketball arena was rededicated Williams Arena.

A 2001 ECU Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, Walter currently serves as director emeritus of the Pirate Club after acting as the executive president. He provided his leadership and vision serving as the co-chair on three capital campaigns including "Kickoff to Victory" for the Murphy Center, "It's a Whole New Ballgame" for Clark-LeClair Stadium and "Step Up to the Highest Level" for the Williams Hall of Fame Facility and ECU Men's and Women's Basketball Practice Facilities.

The campaigns have been successful ventures for the Pirates.

"Walter and Marie Williams are the ultimate Pirates," Executive Director of the Pirate Club J. Batt shared. "They have led from the front on every capital campaign and have stepped up again. ECU is a better place because of the Williams family."

According to Walter, this campaign is no different than those of the past. A successful campaign will establish the foundation for a successful future for ECU Athletics.

"The construction and renovation of our facilities through successful capital campaigns offers our student-athletes, teams and coaches the tools and resources to achieve," Walter Williams explained. "If you want to play the best, you have to be competitive. One of the ways is through our facilities."

However, success cannot be achieved without each member of Pirate Nation taking part in the Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium Southside Renovation project.

"We cannot grow without assets," Walter Williams said. "Our asset is each member of Pirate Nation - each person who makes up Pirate Nation. There is no doubt, each of us has pride in being a Pirate, but we must act the part through support of a capital campaign of this magnitude. It plays a significant part in ECU Athletics' future success."

Both Walter and Marie attended ECU in the 1950s, then known as East Carolina Teachers College. Walter graduated in 1951 with his bachelor's degree in health and human performance before returning to obtain his master's degree in education supervision in 1955. Marie received her education degree in 1953. The couple values the importance of education.

Even today, their ECU legacy is tied to the education of students. Their gifts have provided access to education, not only for student-athletes, but other student populations. The Williams' support three endowment scholarships and provided the founding gift of the STEPP program – Supporting Transition and Education through Planning and Partnerships – opening an educational opportunity to those who may not have pursued it.

"Walter and Marie Williams have stepped up once again to show their support of Pirate Athletics with this gift to the Southside Renovation Project," Pirate Club Executive President Danny Nichols stated. "They continue to show their leadership with not only their financial support, but also with their presence at Pirate athletic events. The Pirate Nation is truly blessed to have the support and generosity of Walter and Marie Williams."

As part of a long-term facilities master plan, the $55 million capital campaign involves the construction of a southside tower resulting in the creation of 1,000 premium seats through the addition of a new Club Level, Loge Boxes, Standard Suites and Founder's Suites. In addition to an enhanced game-day experience with a new Pirate Club Level, Field Level Club and premium parking spaces.

Beyond Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, the project includes improvements to the Ward Sports Medicine Building and Scales Field House to provide needed functional space for over 450 Pirate student-athletes. Development of an Indoor Hitting Facility adjacent to Lewis Field at Clark-LeClair Stadium, is also part of the capital campaign project.

For more information on how to support the Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium Southside Renovation project, contact the ECU Pirate Club at 252-737-4540 or ecupirateclub@ecu.edu.

Williams Foundation Commits $1 Million Towards DFS Renovation Campaign

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