Curry family donates $500K to Drury events center

Drury graduates Craig and Tracy Curry donated $500,000 to Drury University Wednesday, marking the last needed financial piece to finish the O'Reilly Family Event Center.

Craig Curry, chairman and CEO of Central Bank in Lebanon, studied economics and business administration before graduating from Drury in 1983. Tracy Curry graduated in 1984, having studied sociology and criminology.

In recognition of the gift, Drury's athletic field and training facilities will be named the Curry Sports Complex, including the field and track at Harrison Stadium and Drury's indoor training facility at Central Street and Summit Avenue. Harrison Stadium will keep its name.

Signs designating the Curry Sports Complex will adorn the arch at the entrance to Harrison Stadium, as well as signs on Central Street and above the indoor training center.

"Harrison Stadium and the track get an abundance of use by Drury students, athletes and Springfield youth. In addition, the indoor training facility will be a great aid to our athletes to help them compete on any level," Craig Curry said in a news release. "Our time at Drury was very memorable and rewarding. It has enabled us to make this gift, and it feels great to be able to give back to an organization that did so much for us and continues to excel today.”

Fundraising for the $12 million event center began in December 2007 with a $6 million gift from the O'Reilly family. The center will be built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold standards, funded by a $600,000 gift from the Pitt family.

Drury broke ground on the 3,100-seat event center in mid 2009, with opening scheduled for October.

The Currys also donated money to St. John's Hospital in Lebanon to help build the hospital's Curry Cancer Center.
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