Mississippi State Athletics picked up a major boost Thursday, announcing a $1 million donation to the State Excellence Fund from two MSU alumni.
Ray, class of 1977, and Deborah, class of 1978, Dillion made the gift through the Excellence Fund, which serves as a fundraising extension of the university’s athletics department. The fund was introduced with an $8 million donation to MSU football in Sept. 2024 and was called then “the Mississippi State Athletics fund of the future,” according to a press release.
Athletics director Zac Selmon said in the release, “We’re so grateful for Ray and Deborah. Their love for Mississippi State is evident, and we can’t say ‘thank you’ enough for this selfless gift that will help us keep pushing forward and reaching new heights at State. Ray and Deborah are not only generous supporters of our community, institution and state, they are great friends to me and my family and trusted partners who care deeply for Mississippi State Athletics moving forward from day one.”
Ray Dillion earned his bachelor’s in chemical engineering and worked his way to a president and CEO role at the Beltic Timber Corporation. Deborah Dillion spent her career in hospitals as a medical technologist. Both are retired and live in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Their donation was one of the important pieces of MSU’s revenue in fiscal year 2024. State reported $93.1 million in contributions, 33% of State’s total operating revenue and the largest sum across State’s 15 revenue-generating classes.
MSU had the sixth-highest reported contributions in the conference in FY24 but the lowest total operating revenue of the SEC’s 16 public institutions.
“We’re so grateful for Ray and Deborah,” athletics director Zac Selmon said in the release. “Their love for Mississippi State is evident, and we can’t say ‘thank you’ enough for this selfless gift that will help us keep pushing forward and reaching new heights at State. Ray and Deborah are not only generous supporters of our community, institution and state, they are great friends to me and my family and trusted partners who care deeply for Mississippi State Athletics moving forward from day one.”
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