The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Donor Spotlight: Ryan Zehl
09.08.2026 | Longhorn Foundation
Ryan Zehl’s connection to UT began in 1997 and has continued to shape his life and career. Today, he reflects on the experiences and relationships from his time on the Forty Acres that helped shape who he is.
About Ryan Zehl
Native Texan Ryan Zehl grew up in Houston and attended Memorial High School before arriving at The University of Texas in 1997. His time on the Forty Acres would shape his life in more ways than one; it was where he gained experiences that would influence his future and where he met his wife. Today, Ryan is the owner of Zehl & Associates, a personal injury law firm serving individuals who have been seriously injured across Texas and the country. As he reflects on his journey, Ryan credits many of the opportunities and successes in his life to the lessons and experiences that began at UT.
What is your connection to The University of Texas and when did Texas first become part of your story?
I’ve always been a Texas fan, although I grew up in a family of Aggies. My dad, aunts and uncles all went to Texas A&M, so I was the first Longhorn in the family. I loved watching Texas football growing up, and the burnt orange always resonated with me. Coming to Austin gave me experiences I don’t think I would have had anywhere else. One of the most memorable was being elected as one of four Bevo handlers through the Silver Spurs. At 19 years old, being trusted to care for Bevo and represent the university was an incredible responsibility and one I’ll never forget.
We even had the opportunity to take Bevo to Washington, D.C., for George W. Bush’s first inauguration, where we represented Texas on a national stage. Looking back, experiences like those are a big part of why my connection to the university has lasted well beyond my four years as a student. I truly feel like Texas is with me for life, and giving back is one way I can honor everything the university has given me.
What role has Texas Athletics played in your connection to the university?
My fondest memories are at the football games, and I think a lot of Longhorns can share that sentiment. Texas athletics and the Longhorn Foundation are what unite the Forty Acres. Even for those of us who don’t live in Austin anymore, they make it feel at home and give us a way to stay connected to the university and to one another.
What I love most is how athletics bring generations of Longhorns together. You can have an 80-year-old graduate sitting next to a freshman, and for four quarters, they share that same bond. As alumni, we also have the opportunity to help student-athletes achieve things they might not otherwise be able to through scholarships and academic support. That’s a meaningful way to keep the legacy of Texas alive.
Do you have a favorite Texas sports memory or moment that stands out over the years?
Absolutely the Rose Bowl. I went to the game right after I graduated, and watching Vince Young run in for that touchdown with just seconds left against USC is something I’ll never forget. USC was the favorite and had been on an incredible winning streak, so watching Texas pull off that win on that stage was an unbelievable moment.
I’ve also had the opportunity to spend time with Vince since graduating, and he’s an amazing person and obviously a tremendous athlete. That whole experience is a favorite Texas memory for me. And now, under Coach Sark, I have real faith we’re going to experience the joy of winning another national championship soon.
I truly feel like Texas is with me for life, and giving back is one way I can honor everything the university has given me.
Why is supporting Texas Athletics so important to you?
My time at Texas taught me a lot, the discipline to work hard for what you want, which I learned in the classroom, and the value of tradition and shared purpose, which I experienced through football and being a Silver Spur. To me, athletics and the Longhorn Foundation are where those values come together. They’re the heartbeat of the university. No matter when you graduated or what your experience at Texas looked like, there’s a shared bond, especially on a Saturday in Austin.
Being a Longhorn means being part of something much bigger than yourself. The University of Texas gave me opportunities, lifelong friendships, my wife and some unbelievable experiences, while also supporting me during some of the most difficult times in my life. When I say I’m proud to be a Longhorn, I’m not talking about a diploma hanging on the wall. Texas helped shape the person I am, and I feel like the least I can do is give back and help ensure future generations of Longhorns can pursue their own dreams and goals.
What does it mean to you to know that your support is helping provide opportunities for today’s student-athletes?
For me, giving is about supporting the student-athletes who are here today and the generations who will come after them. These young men and women are balancing academics, athletics and enormous expectations, and if our support can give them the resources to succeed, that’s incredibly meaningful to me.
What makes the investment especially personal is knowing that it can have a tangible impact on someone’s life. Providing opportunities that a student-athlete might not otherwise have and helping remove some of the financial pressures so they can focus on their sport, their academics and their future, is incredibly rewarding. I don’t think there’s a better feeling than knowing you played a small part in helping shape somebody else’s future. The university simply couldn’t provide these opportunities without the support of its alumni and donors.
If you could sit down with a current Longhorn student-athlete and tell them one thing, what would you say?
I’d encourage them to take some time to think about what they want to do with their life and then pursue it with purpose. Hard work, persistence, and resilience will take you a long way. There will inevitably be setbacks and disappointments along the way, but those moments are part of the journey. What matters is continuing to move forward and learning from the experiences along the way.
I’d also encourage them to take advantage of everything the university has to offer, not just in the classroom, but through the people they meet, the relationships they build, and the experiences they have. Some of the most meaningful things you take away from Texas happen outside the classroom. The friendships and connections you make in Austin can stay with you for the rest of your life, so embrace those opportunities and enjoy the experience.
Why do you think it's important for other Longhorns to continue investing in athletics?
Athletics is one of the strongest connections between the university and its alumni. It keeps people connected, preserves traditions, and creates a sense of pride and belonging that lasts long after graduation. Some of my strongest memories are tied to football games and the traditions surrounding them, and investing in athletics helps ensure future students and alumni have the opportunity to create those same memories.
I also don’t really view my support of the university as a donation. I view it as an investment in a place that has given me so much and means so much to me and my family. At some point, I think you realize that the institutions that helped shape who you are and gave you the foundation to get where you are deserve your support. For me, Texas is one of those places.
I don’t think there’s a better feeling than knowing you played a small part in helping shape somebody else’s future.
What excites you most about the future of Texas Athletics?
Sark and I have become close friends over the past several years, and I have tremendous respect for how he leads the program. What excites me most is the culture he has built and, especially, his ability to connect with his players, not just as student-athletes, but as young men. They trust him because they know he genuinely cares about them, their development, and their futures. That kind of connection creates a culture that people want to be part of.
I’m excited to see where he can take Texas from here. That kind of relationship and bond creates a culture that people want to be a part of. Watching what he has built at Texas, and the way he represents the university, is just another reason why I continue giving back to the university, the Longhorn Foundation, and Athletics.
What's one thing about Texas that you don't think you could ever explain to somebody who isn't a Longhorn?
I think the one thing people may not understand from the outside is that Longhorns, Austin and the university never stop feeling like home. Every time I step onto campus or into DKR, I get the same sense of nostalgia I had when I was a student. It’s almost like a time portal that brings you right back. We all graduate, build our careers, and move forward with our lives, but that connection to the university stays with you.
Longhorns also take care of each other. I experienced that firsthand when my dad passed away. There’s a sense that you’re never really among strangers when you meet another Longhorn. You can walk into a room full of people you’ve never met, find someone from Texas and feel like you’re reconnecting with an old friend. That bond is difficult to explain, but it’s something that stays with you for life.
