The gift will establish the William and Beverly Dallas and Scott and Tracie Hamilton Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and further expand the college's entrepreneurship program, said BGSU President Sidney Ribeau. The Dean of the College, Robert Edmister noted that the Dallas and Hamilton Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership will include academic programs, under the direction of Dr. Brent Nicholson, as well as community entrepreneurial leadership and outreach programs. The gift will also establish the Ernest and Dorothy Hamilton Professorship in entrepreneurship, in honor of Scott Hamilton’s parents, BGSU faculty members who are now deceased.

Hamilton, who enrolled in classes at BGSU in 1976, was named an honorary alumnus in 1985 and received an honorary doctor of performing arts degree in 1994. Hamilton learned to skate at the BGSU Ice Arena, won a berth on the U.S. Olympic squad in 1980 and was voted Male Athlete of the Year by the Olympic Committee in 1981. At the 1984 Winter Olympic Games in Sarajevo, Hamilton captured the gold medal. As an amateur, Hamilton won numerous medals and world titles. After graduating from the amateur ranks in 1984, he toured for 15 seasons with Stars on Ice - which he co-created and co-produced - and has independently produced ice shows and covered the Winter Olympics as a commentator for CBS Sports. He also received an Emmy Award for a television special and won praise for his biography, "Landing It."

William Dallas, who graduated magna cum laude from BGSU in 1977, began to make a name for himself as an entrepreneur almost as soon as he graduated. He co-founded and served as chairman and CEO of First Franklin Financial Corp. and co-founded Heritage Bank of Commerce, both in California. Today, Dallas serves as chairman and CEO of Ownit Mortgage Solutions, an industry leader in nonagency residential lending specializing in 100 percent purchase programs. The entrepreneur earned a juris doctorate from the University of Santa Clara in 1987. In 2002, Dallas received a BGSU Accomplished Graduate Award and also holds the coveted Certified Mortgage Banker designation. He recently retired as chairman of California Lutheran University. In 2001, Dallas and his partner, Bill Freeman, co-founded B&B Restaurant Ventures with Fox Sports. The New York-based television network launched Fox Sports Grill in Scottsdale, Ariz., with a nationwide rollout planned for later this year and into 2005

Early development of entrepreneurship programs was made possible by a $50,000 award from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation of Kansas City, Mo. and substantial gifts from alumni and friends of the college. The BGSU academic entrepreneurship program has grown quickly since first offering a minor in entrepreneurship in fall 2003 to both business and non-business students. The program graduated its first students at the recent May commencement. For further information about entrepreneurship programs, click here.