CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) — At a press conference yesterday, University of Illinois Athletic Director Josh Whitman celebrated alumnus Larry Gies’s historic $100 million donation—which will rename Illinois’s iconic Memorial Stadium as Gies Memorial Stadium. The gift honors Gies’s late father, Army veteran Larry Gies Sr., and marks the largest contribution in the history of Illinois Athletics.
Whitman emphasized the profound connection between Gies and the university. “U of I had a profound impact on Larry. He has always been generous with his time, but now he is generous with his money too for the athletic department.”
Whitman revealed that discussions about the gift began in 2021, highlighting a long-standing commitment. He described the nature of effective development succinctly. “Fundraising isn’t about selling, it’s about listening.”
Echoing the personal roots of this bequest, Whitman noted, “one of Larry’s earliest memories was coming to Memorial Stadium to see an Illini game with his dad.” He added, “Larry is writing his chapter in the stadium story.”
Whitman also detailed recent stadium improvements: over the past four years, the university has invested $20 million into the stadium’s east and south ends—upgrades include improved concessions, new windows, updated flooring, and plans are underway to remove fencing along Kirby Avenue.
The renaming comes just one year after Memorial Stadium’s 100th anniversary.
