If you pay for it, they will come. Getting a building dedicated in your name is a matter of money and how much you’re willing to give. Here are some of the famous faces behind the residence halls.
The oldest named residence halls are McKay and Smiley. McKay was originally a men’s only dorm and was named for Kenneth McKay who was a chairman of the Board of Trustees from 1940-1945. Smiley was the women’s only dorm and was named for David E. Smiley who followed McKay as a chairman until his death in 1960.
Austin Hall was first called Crescent Place and was built in 1998. The name was changed in 2005 to honor Alfred and Beverly Austin who helped a lot in the expansion of UT at the time. Alfred Austin is a former UT board chairman, a successful businessman and is involved in many charitable causes.
Vaughn Center was built along with Brevard Hall in 2000 with help from a notable donation from John Sykes. Sykes chose to name the student center/residence hall/conference facility after our long-time and beloved President Ronald Vaughn.
Frank P. Urso is an alum from the UT class of 1957 and is a retired pathologist and author who grew up in Tampa. Previously called Kennedy Place, Urso Hall was named after him after a donation of $3 million in 2008. Fun fact: A 1956 edition of The Minaret has Frank P. Urso listed on the honor roll his senior year.
David A. Straz is a retired banker and also a generous contributor to Tampa causes (the performing arts center across the street bares his name too). The residence hall opened in 2003 and was called Stadium Place before it was given his name in 2005. Straz served on the University of Tampa board of trustees as chairman.
Previously Stadium Center (built in 2007), Morsani Hall is named for power couple and philanthropists Frank and Carol Morsani. The couple made a multi-million dollar donation last year and Morsani Hall was christened. Frank Morsani has been an active member of several UT boards since 1974. Fun fact: the building was funded in part from a $5 million anonymous donation.
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