The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Marian Dozier donates significant gift to Texas Athletics
08.20.2014 | Texas Athletics, Longhorn Foundation
The contribution marks the first leadership gift under Men’s Athletics Director Steve Patterson.
Texas Athletics has received a significant gift from longtime supporter Marian Dozier. Funds are to be distributed to name the Men's and Women's Basketball offices in honor of the Dozier family, and the Texas Football and Baseball press boxes in honor of family friend and former Texas Athletics employee Bill Little. Additionally, a portion of the funds is set to renovate practice facilities in Denton A. Cooley Pavilion.
It marks the first leadership gift under new Men's Athletics Director Steve Patterson.
"We greatly appreciate the Dozier family's significant support of Texas Athletics and all our student-athletes," said Patterson. "Hopefully Marian's leadership will inspire others to, in their own way, support Texas Athletics. The Dozier family has been great members of the Longhorns family for decades, and we look forward to that relationship continuing for many years to come."
"The Doziers have always been about family to us," said Women's Athletics Director Chris Plonsky. "They owned a very visible business in this community and were industry leaders. In all interactions with them, their children and grandchildren, they have understood from the beginning that any relationship with Texas has been about supporting the student-athlete experience. That notion of support was at the heart of every donation they made and every ticket they bought -- not just for themselves, but for their employees and clients -- and in any of the sponsorships they so generously participated in as well."
Marian, her late husband Dick, and their four sons moved to Austin in 1968. After realizing they would need more financial resources to provide a quality education for their children, the Doziers purchased a Taco Bell franchise on Burnet Road. What began with one successful store led to the Doziers owning 74 Taco Bells throughout Central Texas, making it one of the most successful franchise operations in the country. Their move to Austin also provided a new college athletics program to support -- the Texas Longhorns.
The Doziers donated funds that contributed to the Men's and Women's Basketball practice facility when it was first built in 2003. This larger commitment is a continuation of the Dozier family's previous investment to provide the best facilities for Texas student-athletes to develop their skills. World-class facilities in turn allow Texas Athletics to attract and retain the best talent in the country, including coaches and student-athletes.
"For as long as I can remember, basketball has been an important part of the life of the Dozier family," said Marian. "When Dick and I moved our family to Austin, we began a love affair with Texas Athletics. As our business and our family grew, so did our association with the Longhorns. In a way, through the good times and the tough times, people in the athletics department were there to celebrate with us and to support us."
After Dick's death, Marian led the purchase of 45 Pizza Hut restaurants as chair of Austaco. In 2003, Austaco won the Glenn Bell Award, given to the Taco Bell franchise of the year. Individually, Marian received the Cheese Head Award as she epitomizes all that Yum and Pizza Hut brands stand for when it comes to family-run business. In both her work and life, Marian has taken care of the people and organizations she works with, just as they have supported her.
"Our company grew because of tremendous people, good fortune, and a great game plan, and it is for those values that we stand," said Marian. "Our business motto is 'Here to Serve.' And that is what our family is doing with this gift of love and thanks."
"We are just so honored that we are going to continue to see their presence not just with names on the facilities, but also in the spirited nature of their gift," said Plonsky. "It will always remind us of the good in people and how lucky we are to have donors who share our vision. Marian took over the business after Dick died and has been an incredible role model for our women employees and student-athletes on how to use their degree to succeed in their career. She is a walking example of what a bright, motivated, caring woman could do in business."
"As important as Dick became in the fast food industry, he always was a coach at heart -- and he used those principles every day in our business," said Marian. "I learned long ago that college athletics is about young people -- about their hopes and dreams. It is important for those of us who have been blessed with success to be role models and to give them something to shoot for that is well beyond a goal line or a basket. That is why it matters to our sons and to me that the Dozier name be counted among those who believe in young people and the goals set forth by The University."
While the Men's and Women's Basketball offices are named after the Dozier family, the Texas Football and Baseball press boxes are named the Bill Little Media Center to honor a longtime family friend. Little's involvement with Texas Athletics started in 1968 as an assistant sports information director. His association spans the career of five Texas Football coaches and six decades. He has accompanied Texas teams to 36 bowl games, broadcast more than 1,700 college baseball games, and served as the voice of Men's and Women's Basketball.
"It means so much to be able to honor my great friend Bill in this way," said Marian. "A passion for Texas Athletics is something we have always shared, and it is through athletics that we became so close. This naming will help honor his immense life work, the legacy he has left nationally on sports media, and hopefully motivate young people to follow their passions in work and life."
Marian has served the greater Austin community through participation in boards and causes such as the Longhorn Foundation Advisory Council, Neighborhood Longhorns, Any Baby Can, Specially for Children Infusion Center, the Miracle Foundation, Presidents Council of Austin Lyric Opera, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and the Central Texas chapter of the National Football Foundation. Additionally, Marian served as trustee at Brite Divinity school at Texas Christian University. She was honored with The First Tee core value award for sportsmanship in 2012. The Dozier family are founding members of Shepard of Hills Christian Church. Marian has four children: Dirk, Doug (1952-2012), Rich and Jay.
