Texas Christian University in Fort Worth has announced a $30 million gift from alumnus Spencer Hays ('59) and his wife, Marlene, to help fund a facilities expansion at its Neeley School of Business.

The gift, the largest ever received by the business school, will help fund construction of new east and south wings, a central atrium, an office complex, and an auditorium. Existing facilities also will be renovated as part of the $100 million project. To be named the Marlene and Spencer Hays Business Commons in recognition of the gift, the new facilities, when completed, are expected to help in the recruitment of faculty, staff, and students, reinforcing Neeley's reputation as a top business school.

The couple previously gave a naming gift in support of TCU's Marlene and Spencer Hays Theatre. An emeritus TCU trustee, Spencer Hays is executive chairman of the Southwestern Company, where he began his career as a TCU student selling books door-to-door. He also founded the Tom James Company, the world's largest manufacturer and direct seller of custom clothing, and is involved in publishing, insurance, fundraising, and real estate.

Hays attributed his success to the lessons he learned while selling books over summer vacation. "I learned to set high goals, to use good self-talk, and to hold myself accountable," he said. "Like tens of thousands of other Southwestern alums, I began to deal with the fear of failure and fear of rejection by knocking on all those doors."