East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina, has announced a $5 million gift from alumnus Tom Arthur ('71) in support of its College of Business.

The award includes a $2.5 million cash commitment and a $2.5 million planned gift. Funding will be used to strengthen graduate-level education in the College of Business and provide support for student veterans and military personnel in the program, including leadership, travel, or internship experiences and financial incentives to make enrollment affordable and appealing to military-affiliated students.

The son of a tobacco leaf processor, Arthur grew up in Greenville. After serving in Vietnam, he returned to Greenville and met with then-dean of the College of Business, James Bearden, who convinced him to join the newly formed Master of Business Administration program. His previous support for the university includes a $1 million gift to establish the Thomas D. Arthur Distinguished Professorship in Leadership in 2010.

"I wanted to do something while I was alive and could see it and touch it," said Arthur. "The first best decision I made was go to into the military. The second was attending ECU. Those two things really prepared me for life."

"The remarkable generosity from Tom Arthur will allow the College of Business to expand and enhance its education of students and bolster its reputation for producing successful business leaders," said chancellor Philip Rogers. "It's wonderful to have donors who believe and invest in ECU's future in such a considerable way."