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John and Becky Duffey donate $2.5 million to MSU basketball hall of history and MSU School of Hospitality Business

February 26, 2016

A $2.5 million gift from alumni couple John and Becky Duffey will help to fund a professorship in the MSU School of Hospitality Business and will also assist in the construction of MSU basketball's hall of history and other updates to Breslin Center.

Of the $2.5 million, $1 million will go to MSU’s Broad College of Business to create the professorship, while the remaining $1.5 million will go to MSU Athletics to help fund the construction of the MSU basketball hall of history and other various updates to Breslin.

“MSU Athletics has meant a lot to our family and we are excited to have the opportunity to support MSU basketball. We also are pleased to support the business college with a named professorship. It is vital in this challenging and competitive environment for alumni to step up and give back to Michigan State University,” John Duffey said in the release. “As proud alumni and parents of a current MSU student, we understand that attracting and retaining the best educators is key to attracting and developing the next generation of business leaders.”

John Duffy, who received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from MSU in 1982, is the recently appointed president and CEO of Six Flags Entertainment Corp., the world's largest regional theme park.

This is not the first time John and Becky Duffy have given a significant gift to MSU Athletics. The couple previously donated $1.5 million to upgrade the football practice facilities, now named the John and Becky Duffey Football Practice Field.

"This campaign will help transform MSU Athletics and John and Becky are again leading the way, showing how private support can help our coaches attract the best and brightest student-athletes. Fundraising momentum for the Breslin Center renovation continues to build and when it’s completed will be one of the finest facilities in the country,” MSU Athletics Director Mark Hollis said in the release.

John an Becky also serve on the campaign board for the Broad College of Business and Eli and Edythe L. Broad Dean of the Business College Sanjay Gupta said the couple "epitomize" what it means to be a Spartan.

“They are extremely generous philanthropists, they are leaders in our community, and they are humble and gracious in all that they do," Gupta said. "Their investment shows confidence in the work of the College of Business and will allow for the top-ranked hospitality school to continue its tradition of having the best professors in the business.”

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