Talk:Thomas J. Autzen

Major Deletions

Several major deletions and rewrites have been recently made to this page, removing critical facts about the individual and his family. This page does not provide a platform to market Autzen Stadium. It is dedicated to the history of Thomas J. Autzen. Please feel free to add facts about the individual and do not remove facts.AgntOrange (talk)

Image Use

Since this page is about the history of Thomas J. Autzen, the only acceptable main image should be of the individual and not the stadium named after him. A link to Autzen Stadium is more than acceptable. AgntOrange (talk)

Completely wrong history of the Foundation

The Autzen Foundation was not "created by Thomas J. Autzen to fundraise for the construction of Autzen Stadium." The Foundation was created by Thomas J. Autzen in 1951, well before the site of any new stadium had even been purchased by Oregon AD Leo Harris, who was the chief fundraiser for the stadium effort. The foundation was primarily involved with charitable donations including scholarships and educational grants.

Then-UO president Arthur Flemming approached Thomas E. Autzen in 1966, asking for a donation from the foundation of $250k that would put the $1m fundraising drive over the top. In exchange for the donation, the stadium was dedicated to Thomas J. Autzen, but it was Thomas E. -- who was an Oregon graduate -- who decided to donate the funds of the foundation he controlled.

The sole original citation, a 2006 foundation directory, mentions not a word about athletic or collegiate donations as a target of Autzen Foundation donations. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Abdoozy (talk • contribs) 21:23, 11 June 2011 (UTC)

Thomas J. Autzen was alive when his foundation donated the $250,000 for the stadium's construction. The new stadium construction was mentioned in the Duck's 1958 Rose Bowl game. Please research this and provide evidence to prove otherwise before making nonfactual changes. Thank you. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.232.251.65 (talk) 03:07, 3 July 2011 (UTC)

Can you provide evidence to prove that Thomas J donated the $250k in 1958? That would be news to Arthur Flemming, who personally intervened on Leo Harris' behalf in 1966 for the final $250k donation. Leo Harris had been planning to build a stadium in North Bank Park for many years, but the land itself wasn't even available for purchase until 1959, and the acreage was purchased with regular athletic dept funds. An article about the 1958 team that mentions an agreement by Ohio St to play in a new stadium someday can hardly be considered evidence that Thomas J donated the funds. Please provide evidence to prove otherwise before making nonfactual changes. Thank you. Abdoozy (talk) 04:30, 12 July 2011 (UTC)