STATESBORO, Ga. – Georgia Southern University President Dr. Kyle Marrero and Director of Athletics Jared Benko announced today a large philanthropic gift committed to Georgia Southern Athletics as the Rotary Corporation, run by the Nelson Family, has committed a transformational gift that will help lead the way for two upcoming projects. The arena playing court at the Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center, as well as a future baseball premium area (baseball project pending Board of Regents approval), will be named in honor of this substantial gift. The amount of the gift is tied for the largest in department history.
"We are immensely grateful to the Rotary Corporation and the Nelson Family for their extraordinary commitment to Georgia Southern Athletics," Marrero said. "Their generous gift, building upon their longstanding legacy of giving to Georgia Southern, will propel us forward in creating exceptional opportunities for our student-athletes to continue to excel—both in the classroom and in their respective sports."
The 95,000-square-foot center is named in honor of the late Senator Jack Hill and his wife of 46 years, Ruth Ann Hill. Both are Georgia Southern graduates. The Jack and Ruth Ann Hill Convocation Center will be the largest event venue space between Savannah and Macon. With an estimated total cost of over $60 million, the center will be a multi-story and multi-use complex for both academic and athletics that will be the new home for Georgia Southern basketball games.
"It is always good to see Tattnall County folks being recognized for their lifetime achievements, and seeing Jack and Ruth Ann's names on the new Convocation Center is a perfect fit," said Ed Nelson, President of Rotary Corporation. "Rotary has called Tattnall County home since 1957, and we are honored to help support this special project. Jack and Ruth Ann were lifelong friends of our family."
The Nelson Family, based out of Glennville, Georgia, has pledged over $4 million to the Athletic Foundation over the past 40 years. The group, which includes Ed and Jeannie Nelson, Don and Tara Nelson Martin, and Traci Nelson Heilman, gave the full amount to fund the Field of Dreams at Allen E. Paulson Stadium and pledged $1 million to name the Hall of Fame in the Ted Smith Family Football Center, which is named in memory of their late father, Bill W. Nelson. Several members of the family were part of The Transition 20, and the family pledged a significant amount for past Hanner Fieldhouse and J.I. Clements Baseball stadium projects. The Rotary Corporation has leased a VIP Suite at Paulson Stadium since 1984. The family was inducted into the Georgia Southern Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2022.
"The Rotary Corporation and the Nelson Family continue to be such a blessing to Georgia Southern University," said Director of Athletics Jared Benko. "Throughout the past several decades, the Rotary Corporation and the Nelsons have been instrumental in leading efforts for several facility projects and initiatives that have profoundly affected our student-athletes and fan experience at Georgia Southern. This impactful gift will further positively impact our student-athletes at Georgia Southern and the community of Statesboro, Bulloch County and Southeast Georgia. The Nelson's legacy of giving is an inspiration to us all."
The family is in the prestigious Oak Circle, the highest level of recognition in the Georgia Southern Athletic Foundation.
