Fans who may be apprehensive about future support for athletics from the University of Louisville trustees may have reason to be concerned. The levels of giving range from generous in some cases to abysmal in others.

And apparently giving back to academics is way down on their list of personal priorities.

That’s according to a report obtained from UofL by Card Game through an open records request. The report includes lifetime giving for academics and athletics through August 9th — and it does not differentiate between personal and corporate giving.

The vast majority of trustees have been tightfisted in their financial support, especially in athletics. In fact, eight of the 13 trustees have never donated anything to the athletic program. Overall giving to academics was worse although 11 trustees have made donations. Two of them had yet to give anything to UofL.

There are some notable exceptions, with John Schnatter, through his company’s name brand sponsorship of Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium, receiving credit for a total of $19.1 million-plus for athletics and another $5.7 million-plus for academics.

Sandra Frazier, the owner of Tandem Communications, has contributed $5.3 million-plus to academics and $10,350 to athletics. She is, of course, the niece of Owsley B. Frazier, who was a multi-million contributor to numerous programs throughout the university, including athletics.

Interesting that J. David Grissom, chairman of Glenview Trust and chairman of the board of trustees, is among the leading contributors to athletics at a sum of $20,000. His financial support for academics, meanwhile, comes in at $108,047. Not all that generous for one of the community’s most successful investors, especially one who graduated from UofL’s law school.

James Rogers, retired chief operating officer of J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons Inc. and an advisor to other investment funds, has given $50,350 to athletics. Rogers, a UofL grad, is also a member of the University of Louisville Athletic Association.

The only other trustee who had contributed to athletics was Ronald B. Wright, a physician who had made $1,500 in donations to athletics. A graduate of UofL Medical School, he practices obstetrics and gynecology in Jeffersonville.

Eight trustees — a group consisting of Bonita Black, Brian Cromer, William Armstrong, Raymond Burse, Nitin Sahney, Enid Trucious-Haynes, Diane Medley and Vishnu Tirumala — have given no money to athletics.

— Armstrong and Cromer are graduates of the University of Kentucky, having given $640 and $75 to academics.  Armstrong is a personnel analyst in UofL’s Department of Surgery. Cromer is a partner at Stites & Harbison law firm.

— Medley, who founded MCM CPA’s in Louisville, has contributed $25,650 to academics. She’s a UofL graduate, valedictorian of her class.

— Trucious-Haynes, a faculty member in the UofL School of Law, has given $4,748 to academics. She’s a Stanford grad.

— Burse, who served briefly as President at Kentucky State University, has given $520 to academics.

— Vishnu Tirumala, who is President of UofL’s Student Government, has given $356 to academics.

Two trustees — Bonita Black, a UK grad who manages Steptoe & Johnson law firm in Louisville, and Nitin S. Sahney, a healthcare executive and Punjab (India) grad –have yet to write their first check to UofL.

A consultant to the University of Louisville Foundation recently suggested that the best way for UofL to restore the faith of donors in the University would be for the trustees to make “visible and meaningful” gifts. The advice had yet to be acted upon by numerous members of this board as of the date of the report.

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By Charlie Springer

Charlie Springer is a former Louisville editor and sportswriter, a public affairs consultant, a UofL grad and longtime fan.

13 thoughts on “Contributions to athletics by UofL Trustees are weak”
  1. I would like to see how much they have donated to University of Kentucky. Do we have those numbers.

    86 Speed School grad.

    1. It took five weeks to get this information. By popular demand, I will make a request to UK to see what the UK grads on the UofL board have given to Kentucky. Patience is required.

      1. Thanks! It would also be interesting to see what Greg Postel and/or wife donated to both institutions.

      2. If possible, please request all folks on the Board that donated to UK even those that were not UK grads. Very curious about all the leaders at UofL and Bevin himself. Who do they really support?

  2. Wouldn’t look for things to change anytime soon. They now have the players they want in place to send our athletic dept. back to the stone ages

  3. Does Bevin have a comparable list that would show how much they gave to him in comparison?

    1. I have no doubt that these trustees donated far more to Gov. Bevin’s election campaign than they have given to UofL since they were reappointed to the board of trustees back in January. It’s a no-brainer.

  4. With the exception of Schnatter this is just more proof of a complete lack of incompetence in putting these people in place.

    Reeks of blue.

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