UT Tyler announces name of new business building

Updated: Feb. 19, 2018 at 6:22 PM CST
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TYLER, TX (KLTV) - "UT Tyler is renaming our College of Business and Technology the Soules College of Business," [the] University of Texas at Tyler President Dr. Michael Tidwell said.

Sponsored by John Soules Sr., the founder of John Soules Food, the nation's leading manufacturer of ready to cook beef and chicken fajita products. Soules made the largest single private contribution to the university in its history.

"It's because of families like the Soules family that have done so much for this community," University of Texas board of regents member Kevin Eltife said. "That's why it's such an incredible place."

But Soules says he could not have made a better decision partnering with UT Tyler.

"My real desire out of this is that someway we are able to impart to these students that business is more than just a class its more than just knowledge out of a textbook," founder of John Soules Food, John Soules Sr. said.

At almost 140,000 square feet, the new facility will hold numerous lab rooms, study areas, twelve classrooms and an auditorium. But Soules financial contribution is not only going to the new building.

"Students will now have scholarships that are available to them," Tidwell said. "Faculty will have a fellowship that is available for travel and study, the writing of books and articles, economic research projects. A lot of things will become available to enhance not just student success but success for all East Texans here throughout the region."

The Soules College of Business will be the largest of UT Tyler's six colleges and is expected to open in the fall of 2018.

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