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Emeritus Trustee Spencer Hays and his wife, Marlene, a Nashville community leader, have made a $30 million gift for
the expansion of Neeley School of Business facilities in the Intellectual Commons. The gift lays the foundation for a $100
million project that will include new east and south wings, a central atrium, an office complex and an auditorium, as well as
renovation of current facilities.
“This is truly a historic gift,” says Chancellor Victor J. Boschini, Jr. “It places Mr. and Mrs. Hays among the University’s
greatest benefactors, such as Mary Couts Burnett and Amon G. Carter.”
Mr. Hays, who earned the BS in Commerce in 1959, describes himself first and foremost as “salesman.” He is executive
chairman of the Southwestern Company, a conglomerate that includes Southwestern Advantage, a direct seller and
publisher of educational products.
As a TCU student selling the company’s books from door to door when school was out, Mr. Hays began a lifetime
profession of direct selling that took him to Southwestern’s highest executive level. He attributes his success to the lessons
of those four summers.
Mr. Hays has interests in a number of other fields as well as publishing, from insurance to financial planning to real estate.
Among his businesses is the Tom James Company, the world’s largest manufacturer and direct seller of custom clothing.
Mrs. Hays is passionate about both the arts and French culture. The Marlene and Spencer Hays Collection of 19th and early
20th century works of French art is literally known around the world. Their masterpieces were returned to their country of
origin and displayed at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris last year. On the TCU campus, the Marlene and Spencer Hays Theatre in
the Mary D. and F. Howard Walsh Center for Performing Arts is named for the couple.
Mrs. Hays also is deeply interested in young people, so it is especially fitting that the newest residence hall in the Worth
Hills Development is named Marlene Moss Hays Hall in her honor. Throughout their life together, she and Mr. Hays have
nurtured thousands of young people from the Southwestern and Tom James companies. They also have endowed two
scholarships at TCU and have been long and loyal supporters of Starpoint School.
“Marlene and I are very excited that we can help build the future at TCU,” Mr. Hays says. “We are investing in a space where
business, innovation and the principles that drive all our businesses will come together to inspire generations of students.”
TRANSFORMATIVE
________
WITH A $30 MILLION GIFT, MARLENE AND
SPENCER HAYS LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR
A $100 MILLION NEELEY EXPANSION
THE FACILITIES IN
THE MARLENE AND
SPENCER HAYS BUSINESS
COMMONS WILL SOLIDIFY
NEELEY’S POSITION AS
A PREMIER BUSINESS
SCHOOL.
SILENT TREATMENT
An expert on interpersonal and family
communication, Dr. Paul Schrodt has deeply
researched the “silent treatment.” His findings
are helping couples avoid its pernicious effects.
Learn more on page 6.
GREATER SERVICE
A transformative $5 million gift to establish
theDavies School of Communication Sciences
& Disorders provides the resources to further
elevate an already exceptional program.
Learn more on page 3.
Inside this issue of
Outlook
WHAT’S NEXT?
TCU is a
Forbes
“Rising Star” — one of its “10
Top Colleges to Watch” … listed by
U.S. News
at No. 76… and ranked as 2nd in the world
for MBA faculty by
The Economist
. With all
indicators pointing up, what’s next for TCU?
Learn more on page 3.
Marlene and Spencer Hays listen to remarks during the
dedication of Marlene Moss Hays Hall in the Worth Hills
residential development. The couple have made a gift in
support of an expanded complex for the Neeley School
to be known as the Marlene and Spencer Hays Business
Commons. Spencer Hays Hall will be a new facility within
that Commons.
W I N T E R 2 0 1 4
OUTLOOK
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