SHSU loses longtime friend Ron Mafrige
8/16/2011 8:30:00 AM | Athletics
Longtime Sam Houston State University alumni and donor Ron Mafrige died at his home Sunday night, surrounded by his closest family members.
Mafrige, 73, contributed more than $2 million to the university since graduating in 1960 and launching a successful career as a real estate entrepreneur.
"He was a leader in many ways for alums," SHSU president Dr. Dana Gibson said. "Whether it's related to athletics or developing and advancing the university, he has definitely been an alumni leader for many years and I think that's something that is going to be sorely missed."
From collections of memorabilia and monuments, to endowments used to fund scholarships and programs, Mafrige volunteered to lead and participate in various Sam Houston organizations and initiatives.
"It's a sad day when you lose a Bearkat like Ron because he did so much for the university," SHSU athletic director Bobby Williams said. "But what I will remember most is that he was a great person."
At SHSU, Mafrige was a Life Endowed Member of the Alumni Association, served on boards for the Kat Pack and the College of Business Administration and was director of the Kat Pack Club. Mafrige was also a recipient of the Alumni Association's 1997 Distinguished Alumnus and 2004 Distinguished Service Awards
In 2005, he gave $250,000 for the construction of an 11,000 square-foot strength and conditioning facility named after longtime football coach Ron Randleman.
The Ron Mafrige Field House in the south end zone of Elliott T. Bowers Stadium, which houses the administrative and football offices for the athletic department, is named in his honor. The Mafrige Basketball Challenge has generated more than $250,000 in gifts and commitments for the university's basketball endowment with an ultimate goal of reaching $1 million.
In 2008, Mafrige donated $40,000 to build the 20-foot-tall statute of General Sam Houston created by alumnus David Addicks, which stands near the Lowman Student Center and Smith-Hutson Building.
He also purchased many of the granite benches seen across campus in honor of a number of people.
Since 1968 Ron Mafrige Enterprises, Inc., has leased more than 1 million commercial square feet of office space in Houston, as well as helped pioneer the suburban office development as the exclusive agent for Strokes Adair Enterprises in Houston.
Outside of university endeavors, Mafrige and his family have established similar scholarship programs at his high school alma mater, San Marcos Baptist Academy, and at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, where seven of his $10,000-scholarship recipients have opted to attend SHSU.
He is a lifetime member of the Houston 100 Club, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the Republican National Committee and the Houston Realtors-Political Action Committee.
"I love this university," Mafrige said in a 2006 interview. "The measure of an individual is what is left behind for your fellow man. I can't think of a better way to do that than to help young people get an education."
Funeral services for Mafrige are scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday at Chapelwood United Methodist Church in Houston. Burial with military honors will follow at Memorial Oaks Cemetery.
