UCCS alum donates $1 million to name new event center

The new, 1,250-seat UCCS event center will bear the name of a family of eight UCCS alums.

James L. “Jim” Gallogly, a 1974 graduate, and his wife, Janet, on behalf of the Gallogly family, have pledged to donate $1 million to the CU Foundation. The donation will be used to help fund the $9 million campus event center scheduled for a 4 p.m.today grand opening and for other campus needs. It is the first full UCCS building named in honor of a campus alum.

The Gallogly connection to UCCS began with Jim’s father, Tom Gallogly, a non-traditional student who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from UCCS in 1970 and 1973. He died in 2000. Seven children of Tom and Margery Gallogly earned degrees from UCCS.

“I am deeply honored by the commitment of the Gallogly family to this campus and to the UCCS heritage of this dynamic group of people,” Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak said. “The event center will stand as a cornerstone of the future growth of UCCS.”

“We are pleased to name the new event center in honor of our father, Tom Gallogly, one of the early graduates of UCCS. He would be extremely proud of how his alma mater has grown and prospered through the years,” stated Jim Gallogly.

Jim is the Chief Executive Officer of LyondellBasell in Houston, one of the world’s largest polymers, petrochemicals and refining companies. He previously held executive positions with ConocoPhillips, ChevronPhillips and Phillips Petroleum dating to 1980. He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from UCCS in 1974 and a law degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1977. Jim and Janet Gallogly have three daughters, Kelly, Kasey, and Kimberly Gallogly, and maintain a residence in Colorado Springs.

A graduate of Wasson High School in Colorado Springs, Jim Gallogly followed in his father’s footsteps to UCCS along with six of his siblings: Mary Gallogly DeSantis, 1977; Tony Gallogly, 1983; Nicholas Gallogly, 1985; Andrew Gallogly, 1987; Paul H. Gallogly, 1988; and Thomas Gallogly, 1990. A ceremony unveiling the official name of the event center will occur at a later date.

Located in the heart of campus, the event center will be home to the UCCS Mountain Lion athletic teams and serve as a hub for community events and conferences. As one of the fastest growing universities in the state, the center will create space for a growing athletics program and student body. It also cements the university’s commitment to the broader community with space that will be available for concerts, lectures, meetings and other community needs.

In addition to being home to the NCAA Division II and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference-member UCCS Mountain Lions, the center will also serve as a multi-purpose venue for all-campus events. The 27,000 square foot center, located adjacent to the old Lions' Den, features high-tech sound, lighting and high-speed data capability. Plans call for the center to be a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Efficiency-certified green building.

Official grand opening ceremonies, featuring UCCS and CU dignitaries, begin at 4 p.m. today prior to men’s and women’s basketball games against Regis University. Faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members are invited to attend. The ceremony will feature comments by CU Regent Steve Bosley, CU President Bruce Benson, and UCCS Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak. UCCS cheerleaders and dance team will perform and the Gallogly gift will be announced.

-- Tom Hutton