FOR RELEASE
March 12, 1999

The Citadel Announces Lead Gift for The New Citadel Football Stadium


          The Citadel has received a gift of one million dollars from the William M. Altman, Jr. family that will serve as the lead gift for the new Citadel sports stadium. The gift will build the hospitality and locker room complex at the stadium.

          The new stadium will seat 20,000 and be a state-of-the-art multi-sport facility with special amenities such as the Altman Athletic Center. Premium sky box seats, president's skybox, media production and briefing areas and the capability for 100,000 square feet of classroom and administrative space will also be included in the facility.

          The late Bill Altman was a South Carolina native who graduated from The Citadel in 1931 with a degree in Business Administration. He served his country in the US Army from 1942 to 1946 with tours in Europe at the battles of Normandy, Northern France, Central Europe and the Rhineland. Altman was awarded the Bronze Star in 1945 and earned service ribbons from the European and American theaters. A successful businessman, he owned and operated Altman Motors, Inc. in Orangeburg, South Carolina. In later years he was associated with the Division of General Services for the State of South Carolina

          He received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from The Citadel in 1991. He was also a recipient of the Order of the Palmetto and a leader in the Orangeburg community. A philanthropist and true friend of The Citadel, he and his wife established the William M. Altman, Jr. and Henrietta B. Altman Foundation Citadel Fund in 1984 as a charitable trust to provide educational funding for The Citadel in the form of academic scholarships. Altman was an avid Citadel sports fan who supported the College with athletic scholarships and was a long time member of The Citadel Brigadier Foundation, serving as president in 1996. He was a lifetime member of The Citadel Alumni Association. His personal gifts to The Citadel over many years provided funding for numerous projects and the new Altman Athletic Center will be dedicated to Bill Altman in honor of his memory and dedication to the College.

          Henrietta B. Altman said regarding her family's gift to The Citadel, "My husband was proud to be a Citadel graduate and my children and I are glad we have the opportunity to honor my husband and their father." Citadel President MGen John S. Grinalds stated, "This is a magnificent beginning. The Altman Athletic Center is made possible by the generosity of Mrs. Henrietta Altman, William M. Altman, III, and Mrs. Dewise A. Bailey, and this gift will project the College and our new sports stadium into the future."

          The Citadel plans for construction of the new stadium to begin as soon as all necessary state approvals have been obtained.