East Texas A&M University announced it received an $8 million gift from alumnus Rene’ Griffin, calling it the largest single philanthropic contribution in the university’s history and the biggest ever to Lion Athletics.
In recognition of the donation, the university said its new on-campus event center, now under construction, will be named the Rene’ Griffin Event Center. The naming was approved by the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents on Feb. 5, 2026. The university also said the contribution is the largest naming rights gift in the Southland Conference’s 63-year history.
Griffin, a 1975 graduate and Commerce, Texas native, has supported the university and its athletics department for decades, according to the announcement. The university said he moved to Commerce as a child in 1960 and has attended every Lion Football homecoming game for the past 65 years. The release also noted his service on multiple boards, including the Alumni Association Board of Directors and as president of the Delta Tau Delta Education Foundation.
The Rene’ Griffin Event Center is expected to be completed in early 2027 and is positioned as a multi-use venue that will serve as the home of Lion basketball, a hub for student life and community engagement, and a driver of regional economic activity, the university said.
East Texas A&M said the naming rights will run for 20 years and that Griffin’s commitment will support several projects and programs across campus. The gift will primarily establish a new athletics unrestricted fund to support student-athletes and competitive excellence initiatives, while also creating an endowment for the event center’s operations and maintenance, and launching a new fund to support students’ academic and social experiences.
KEY QUOTES:
“For more than half a century, Rene’ has poured his heart into East Texas A&M and its people, and his latest gift represents the culmination of a lifetime of extraordinary generosity to our university. Rene’ truly embodies the Lion spirit, and it is both fitting and deeply meaningful that the new event center will bear his name.”
East Texas A&M President Mark Rudin
“I hope this gift inspires others whose lives have been positively impacted by their time at East Texas to invest in the future of this great university. By giving back, we support similar opportunities for the next generation of students and continue building upon the extraordinary legacy of East Texas.”
Rene’ Griffin
“Rene’ has been a mainstay of this community and this university for over 65 years, and it’s only fitting that his name adorns the new event center at East Texas A&M. The impact of this transformative and historic gift cannot be overstated. We are grateful for his decades of support and for believing in the unbounded vision of East Texas A&M and Lion Athletics.”
Director of Athletics Jim Curry
“It is a joy to work with Rene’ and witness firsthand his love for the Lion family, especially our students and student-athletes. He gives to others with a spirit of joy, enthusiasm, and a genuine desire to make a difference. This investment will make a lasting impact on East Texas A&M and Lion Athletics, and we are inspired by his generosity. We hope that our alumni and partners will be inspired to step forward and join our Lion donors in educating and preparing the next generation of leaders for our region and beyond.”
Vice President for Philanthropy and Engagement Devin Girod
