The largest gift in the history of Southern Illinois University Carbondale will lead to plenty of enhancements at the SIU School of Law. WSIU's Brad Palmer has more on Monday's announcement.
The University reports a $10 million gift from John and Jayne Simmons will impact generations of SIU-Carbondale law students and strengthen the law school’s ability to serve its students and the region.
Simmons, a native and resident of Alton, is an SIU-Edwardsville graduate, member of the SIU Board of Trustees, and chairperson and founder of Simmons Hanly Conroy law firm.
In honor of their generosity, the law school will be named Simmons Law School, pending approval from the SIU Board of Trustees in April. During a news conference announcing the gift Monday, John Simmons talked about the naming process.
Simmons said he wants to make this a springboard for future attorneys at SIU.
SIU Law School Dean Camille Davidson said this is quite a gift on the school's 50th anniversary.
State Representative Patrick Windhorst, a graduate of the SIU Law School, said this will benefit the region greatly.
The SIU law school is the alma mater of more than 180 local, state and federal judges. It has alumni practicing law in 48 states and more than 10 countries.
