FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. —Don Tyson and his family have made a $7.6 million gift to the University of Arkansas Campaign for the Twenty-First Century.

See also: Tyson Gift Supports Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History

 The gift will be used for academic support within the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences ($4 million), construction of a new Sigma Nu fraternity house ($1.6 million) and toward the Arkansas Center for Oral and Visual History, which, upon approval from the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees, will be renamed the David and Barbara Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History ($2 million).

 UA Chancellor John A. White said: “Members of the Tyson family have been outstanding philanthropists to the University of Arkansas through many years of association. Their generosity and leadership in supporting many initiatives - academic and athletic - have made a great difference. We are indebted to Don Tyson and John Tyson for their leadership in the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century. Both serve on the Campaign Steering Committee. We are most appreciative for the role John has played as campaign vice chairman, heading our corporations and foundations initiative that has been so very successful, and to Cheryl for her service on the Women’s Athletics Committee. We are very grateful for this most recent example of the Tyson family's support of the University of Arkansas.”

From left: Cheryl Tyson, Barbara Tyson, Barbara Pryor and Carla Tyson.

 Vice Chancellor for University Advancement G. David Gearhart said: “Today we are deeply appreciative of the Tyson Family for their extraordinary support of the campaign. Don, John, Barbara, Carla and Cheryl Tyson have joined in this spectacular philanthropy that will make such a difference in the life of the university. John has been a great volunteer, heading up the corporations and foundations committee, and doing his best to assure the Campaign’s success. He has helped secure literally millions of dollars in private gift support for the Campaign and has been an asset to our efforts. The Tyson family and the company have been stalwart supporters of the university. Their part in this drive will be long-remembered and appreciated. They have been a real catalyst in building our university into a powerhouse institution. We owe much of our success to their leadership.”

 The Arkansas Center for Oral and Visual History was founded in 1999 and is a collaborative effort of the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences and the Special Collections division of University Libraries. Former U.S. Sen. David H. Pryor and Barbara Pryor provided initial financial support for the center with a significant donation from unexpended campaign funds.

David Pryor has served as an advisory board member for the center.

 White said, “We are pleased to announce our intent to name the oral and visual history center the David and Barbara Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History. This generous gift from the Tyson family adds special significance to my recommendation to President Sugg and the Board of Trustees for the center to be named in their honor.”

 The new Sigma Nu house will be operated as a university-owned facility giving it all the advantages of educational, support and staffing services including maintenance and housekeeping. This new relationship with the University of Arkansas is a result of recommendations from the Greek Task Force appointed by Chancellor White.

 

About Don Tyson, John Tyson, their family and Tyson Foods Inc.

 Tyson Foods Inc., founded in 1935 with headquarters in Springdale, is the world’s largest processor and marketer of chicken, beef, and pork and the second-largest food company in the Fortune 500. The company produces a wide variety of protein-based and prepared food products, which are marketed under the “Powered by TysonT” strategy. Tyson is the recognized market leader in the retail and foodservice markets it serves, providing products and service to customers throughout the United States and more than 80 countries. Tyson has approximately 114,000 team members employed at more than 300 facilities and offices in the United States and around the world.

 Don Tyson became president in 1966 of the company his father, John W. Tyson, founded. Don became chairman and CEO of Tyson Foods in 1967, and served in that capacity until the early 1990s. He continues to serve as a member of the board of directors for the company. Don Tyson is a member of the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century Steering Committee and the Corporations and Foundations Committee and designated a Distinguished Alumnus of the University by the Arkansas Alumni Association, the Association’s highest honor. He has been a major benefactor of many philanthropic endeavors, locally, statewide and nationally. The Sam M. Walton College of Business inducted him into the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame in 2000.

 John H. Tyson, Don Tyson’s son, is current chairman and CEO of Tyson Foods. He began his academic career at the University of Arkansas and later graduated from Southern Methodist University in 1975. The Tyson family has supported many projects and programs at the university including the Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House building project, the John W. Tyson Building and Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, the University of Arkansas Press, the Randal Tyson Track Center, the Randal Tyson Memorial Scholarship and the Donald “Buddy” Wray Chair in Food Safety in Bumpers College. John Tyson is a member of the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century Steering Committee and serves additionally as the chair of the Corporations and Foundations Committee and as vice chairman of the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century.

 Barbara Tyson is the wife of the late Randal Tyson, Don Tyson’s brother. Cheryl and Carla are Don Tyson’s daughters.

Campaign for the Twenty-First Century Update

• Campaign for the Twenty-First Century goal: $1 billion
• Start date: July 1, 1998
• End date: June 30, 2005
• The Campaign total — counts all gifts and pledges to academic and athletic purposes: $945 million; 94 percent of the goal in 98 percent of the time.