A Lasting Legacy
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, August 16, 2018
STEPHENVILLE, Texas — The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents today honored Bill and Marsha Rickett’s long-term investment in Tarleton State University with approval to name two areas in the first building of the school’s planned Fort Worth campus for them.
The Bill and Marsha Rickett Library and Student Commons is the result of a generous $200,000 gift from the couple that will leave a lasting legacy for their family and benefit Tarleton Texans for years to come.
“We are fortunate to have such strong supporters as Bill and Marsha Rickett,” said Tarleton President F. Dominic Dottavio. “Gifts of this level are a strong vote of confidence in our university and commitment to provide a high-quality education to North Texas residents.
“The Ricketts believe in Tarleton’s approach to higher education,” Dottavio said. “They appreciate our Core Values and the commitment of our students, faculty and staff to live them.”
Married 55 years, Bill and Marsha were high school sweethearts. They live in Fort Worth.
Bill started his own business, Dynamo Corp., in the early 1970s. He sold the company in 2003 to Brunswick Corp. and retired.
The Ricketts’ son-in-law, Kelye Stites, recently bought Dynamo Corp. back from Brunswick, returning the business to the family. A gaming and sporting goods production company, Dynamo has been the dominant manufacturer of coin-operated recreational game and billiards tables for more than six decades.
“The entire Rickett family — Bill and Marsha, daughter Cindy, son-in-law Kelye, granddaughter Madisen and grandson Trey — are truly a native Texas family with deep roots in the Dallas-Fort Worth area,” said Dr. Kyle McGregor, vice president of Tarleton’s Institutional Advancement Division. “They sincerely care about education and want to improve quality of life in North Texas.”
Tarleton broke ground Feb. 27 for the first building of its planned Fort Worth campus on 80 acres donated by The Walton Group of Companies along the Chisholm Trail Parkway. The 76,000-square-foot, three-story multipurpose academic building is scheduled to open in fall 2019.
In addition to classrooms, offices, library and student commons, the building will house innovative learning areas, a large event space and a community counseling center.
Tarleton opened in Fort Worth in 1978 with only eight students. Today the university serves almost 2,000 students at two locations, the Richard C. Schaffer Building on Enderly Place and the Hickman Building on Camp Bowie Boulevard. Fort Worth enrollment at move-in is expected to approach 2,500 students. With additional buildings, the campus could serve 9,000 students by 2030.
Tarleton, founding member of The Texas A&M University System, provides a student-focused, value-driven education marked by academic innovation and a dedication to transform today’s scholars into tomorrow’s leaders. It offers degree programs to more than 13,000 students at Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Midlothian, RELLIS Academic Alliance in Bryan, and online, emphasizing real-world learning experiences that address societal needs while maintaining its core values of tradition, integrity, civility, excellence, leadership and service.
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Contact: Cecilia Jacobs, Assistant Vice President of Marketing & Communications
254-968-1620
cjacobs@tarleton.edu
