The $100,000 gift from Jerry Tarkanian (right) and his wife, Lois, will help Dean Michael Gorman purchase books such as expensive university press books, art books, and literary and scholarly books from major trade publishers.
by Mary Lisa Russell
Coach Jerry Tarkanian and his wife, Lois, donated $100,000 to the Henry Madden Library on April 28. The gift will establish a special fund in their name to buy books for the library.
Jerry Tarkanian is head coach of the Fresno State basketball team. Lois Tarkanian is an elected member and past president of the Clark County School District Board of Trustees in Las Vegas. Both are Fresno State alumni.
The Tarkanians said the gift was an opportunity to give something back to the university for its contributions to their lives.
Michael Gorman, dean of library services, said, "Every penny of the Tarkanian gift will be spent to buy books."
Gorman added that the average price of such books today is approximately $40. He stated that the $100,000 gift will enable the library to add 2,500 volumes.
"The Tarkanians' generous gift will be spent on scholarly books that we would otherwise be unable to purchase," said Gorman.
After earning their bachelor's degrees at Fresno State, both Tarkanians went on to obtain advanced degrees at other universities. Jerry Tarkanian holds a master's degree in educational management. Lois Tarkanian holds a master's degree in speech and hearing and a doctorate in leadership and human behavior.
She called the Madden Library the "heartbeat" of the university and pledged to help recruit other businesses and individuals to donate to the Tarkanian Book Fund.
"I grew up on a farm near campus and we did not have television to watch," Lois Tarkanian said at the public announcement of the gift. She said her mother, who had a limited education, was responsible for her "love affair with books."
Dr. Michael Ortiz, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs, said the library could boast attendance figures that even "Tark" would appreciate. He reported that the library, which is rated as one of the best regional libraries in the state, had more than 800,740 visitors pass through its turnstiles last year.
Tarkanian said he was pleased to make the contribution. "Academics provided the opportunity for me to go on and do what I wanted to do with my career and life," he said.
Back to University Journal, 5/11/98 Issue
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