Carl and Mary Ice share their love of K-State through philanthropy
In appreciation of their longtime support of both Kansas State University and K-State Athletics, Director of Athletics John Currie announced this fall that the Basketball Training Facility will be permanently named the Ice Family Basketball Center in honor of the Carl and Mary Ice Family following a recommendation from President Kirk Schulz and approval from the Kansas Board of Regents.
“Carl and Mary Ice are both very active K-State alumni who have generously established numerous scholarships and supported a myriad of programs across the university,” said Schulz. “By naming this state-of-the-art student-athlete facility the Ice Family Basketball Center, we are honoring a loyal K-State family commensurate with their dedication to Kansas State University.”
The $18 million facility and home of K-State men’s and women’s basketball, which opened in October 2012 and has been recognized nationally for its innovative design, will be named in recognition of Carl and Mary and their children, Marshall, his wife Megan, and Karen, as a tribute to their commitment to the university and K-State Athletics. The Ices have played key leadership roles in many of the department’s recent facility projects, including the West Stadium Center, Vanier Family Football Complex and the Basketball Training Facility.
“We are honored and humbled to have our family recognized in this manner,” said Carl and Mary. “Kansas State University has meant so much to our family and afforded us so many opportunities. The university and athletics department are in great hands thanks to the leadership of President Schulz, John Currie and all of our terrific coaches, and we look forward to being a part of many great years ahead.”
Native Kansans who currently reside in Westlake, Texas, Carl is the President and CEO of BNSF Railway and a 1979 graduate of the College of Engineering, while Mary is a 1980 graduate of the College of Human Ecology and earned a Masters from the College of Education. Together they serve on the Board of Trustees of the KSU Foundation and Carl is a member of the Foundation’s Board of Directors. Carl is also a past chair of the College of Engineering Advisory Council and a former member of the Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering Advisory Council, while Mary is a member of the President’s Advisory Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics and the Ahearn Fund Advisory Group. She is a former member of the K-State Alumni Association Board of Directors and also served as president of the College of Human Ecology Alumni Advisory Board. Mary and Carl Ice Hall, the latest addition to the College of Human Ecology, was dedicated in 2013 in their honor.
“The Ices have played a critical leadership role in all of our recent facility projects, including the BTF, WSC and VFFC, and they have a deep heart and passion for K-State,” Currie said. “We appreciate their friendship and generosity as we continue to move forward in our goal of being a Model Intercollegiate Athletics Program.”
Their daughter, Karen, is an attorney residing in Manhattan and their son, Marshall (’03), and their daughter-in-law, Megan (’04) are also both K-State graduates.
“Carl and Mary have made a significant impact on our entire K-State campus,” head women’s basketball coach Jeff Mittie said. “Their generous spirit is what makes K-State such a unique and special place that unites all K-Staters.”
“We are proud to have the Ice family name on the training facility,” added men’s basketball head coach Bruce Weber. “They represent the epitome of true K-Staters – loyal, hard-working and generous with their time and support, which goes beyond the athletic department. Megan and I appreciate the friendship that we have been able to develop with Carl and Mary since we came to K-State and look forward to spending more time with them in the future.”
