University of Illinois alumnus Larry Gies has donated $100 million to the university’s athletics program—the largest gift in its history. In recognition, the school will rename Memorial Stadium to Gies Memorial Stadium, both to honor Gies and his late father, a U.S. Army veteran. The donation will fund major stadium upgrades, including audio-visual improvements, and support broader athletic initiatives. This gift continues Gies’ philanthropic legacy at Illinois, where the College of Business is already named after him following an earlier donation. The renaming also serves as a tribute to military service, tying into the stadium’s original commemorative purpose.