AUSTIN, Texas — Robert L. Moody, a businessman and philanthropist known for his support of The University of Texas at Austin, has died at age 88.
Moody left a permanent legacy on all of Austin. He served as chairman of the Board of Trustees for The Moody Foundation, which, in 2013, committed $50 million to establish the Moody College of Communications. It was the largest endowment for communication studies at any public university in the nation at the time.
The Moody Foundation also gave $20 million to reimagine the Blanton Museum of Art, establishing an endowment to support the museum's free day.
UT's basketball arena and events center was named Moody Center in honor of a $130 million grant from the Moody Foundation. The university said the grant to support Texas Athletics is the largest gift from the foundation in UT's history and, overall, the foundation has given more than $204 million to UT.
"Words cannot adequately express our gratitude for the tremendous philanthropic support of Bobby Moody and the lasting impact the Moody Foundation’s contributions will have on UT, our students, our campus, and our city," UT President Jay Hartzell said. "The unwavering commitment to education, research and a thriving community will continue to inspire and empower generations of Longhorns. The fabric of Austin will be forever strengthened by their generosity that fuels the gathering places where we celebrate music, art and athletic achievements."
The Moody Foundation was founded in 1942 by W.L. Moody Jr. and Libbie Shearn Moody. According to UT, it has made more than $1.7 billion in grants throughout the state to "organizations that have educated, healed, nurtured and inspired generations of Texans." It is the largest philanthropic foundation in Texas.
"We are incredibly thankful that the Moody Foundation, under Robert Moody’s leadership, chose to invest in our college, transforming the experiences of our students, faculty and staff in remarkable ways," said Rachel Davis Mersey, interim dean of Moody College of Communication. "We, and the state of Texas as a whole, are mourning a tremendous benefactor and leader."