Bowling Green State University Athletics
Inaugural Bill Frack Challenge Set For Dec. 13
December 04, 2014 | General, Men's Basketball
Who Is Bill Frack?
Frack Files: Memories From Six Decades Of BGSU Men's Basketball (April 10, 2014)
Bill Frack Continues Investment Into Men's Basketball (April 9, 2014)
Falcon Fan Plans Endowment For Men's Basketball (Jan. 19, 2011)
60-Year Passion For BGSU Basketball Prompts Gift For New Court (April 29, 2008)
Bowling Green, Ohio – The Bowling Green State University Athletics Department, in collaboration with the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation, has announced that the inaugural Bill Frack Challenge will take place Saturday, Dec. 13 as the BGSU men's basketball team hosts Cleveland State at 4 pm."BGSU was truly blessed to have a friend like Bill Frack," BGSU President Mary Ellen Mazey said. "Bill's generosity is allowing us to give our coaches and student-athletes the resources they need to excel and compete at the highest levels. The Bill Frack Challenge is a fitting tribute to honor his memory and his contributions to BGSU."
Each year, one BGSU men's basketball game will be named after William D. Frack, who passed away May 28, 2014. Frack was one of the program's biggest fans and supporters and his vision for the program extended to his donation of approximately $20 million. In fact, the BGSU men's and women's basketball and volleyball programs play on Bill Frack Court at the Stroh Center after he gave a separate $2 million donation for the new facility. Frack was one of four donors featured in the Stroh Center Rap, released in September of 2011 to celebrate the opening of the Stroh Center.
"It is truly an honor to have Bill's name on an annual event designed to realize his vision for the Falcon Men's Basketball program," BGSU Director of Athletics Chris Kingston said. "There is no better way to honor Bill's legacy than by combining his passion for high-level basketball competition and his philanthropic efforts within his local community."
Frack's generosity has extended even further than that within the men's basketball program. In March, he made a contribution of about $700,000 to BGSU that allowed the University to offer a more competitive compensation package to attract new men's basketball Head Coach Chris Jans. And in 2004, he donated $100,000 to establish the George and Ruthann Frack Endowment in memory of his parents for the educational support of basketball student-athletes.
"For someone like Mr. Frack to give back to a program he loves and cares about and to give back to a community he cares about shows you a lot about the person he is," Jans said in April. "It should be inspiring to all of us."Along with an in-game video tribute and on-court halftime recognition, BGSU Athletics will give away Bill Frack Challenge t-shirts to the first 500 fans at the contest Dec. 13. BGSU men's basketball opened the season with four consecutive wins, marking the program's best start since the 1999-00 season, and is currently 3-0 at home in the Stroh Center this season.
Frack followed BGSU men's basketball for more than six decades after his father first brought him to watch the Falcons play in 1948 in the old Men's Gym. He remained a devoted fan until his passing.
"Many of my fondest memories revolve around BGSU basketball," Frack said in April of 2014. "I want to give back to the program that has meant so much to me and to the community I've called home."
The endowment he provided is the single, largest private gift in BGSU's history. It is also the largest one-time gift ever designated to a Mid-American Conference basketball program. It is estimated that the endowment will generate about $675,000 annually for the men's basketball program in perpetuity.
"If Butler and Gonzaga can do it, Bowling Green can do it," he said. "I want to provide the resources to take Falcon basketball to the next level."
Fans can purchase tickets by calling 877-BGSU TICKET, by logging on to BGSUFalcons.com/tickets or by visiting the BGSU Ticket Office, located in the Stroh Center.
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