DES MOINES, Iowa – Drake University Athletics mourns the passing of Ron Shivers, a prominent Drake alumnus, longtime supporter, and generous benefactor whose impact on Drake University and Drake Athletics will be felt for generations.
 
Shivers' relationship with Drake extended far beyond his philanthropy. He and his family have deep connections to the University, and his commitment to Drake helped create opportunities for countless students and student-athletes while strengthening the University and its athletics programs.
 
"Ron Shivers cared deeply about Drake University, and we are incredibly grateful for the lasting impact he made on our institution and Drake Athletics," said Drake Director of Athletics Brian Hardin. "Ron believed in Drake, he believed in our student-athletes, and he understood the importance of investing in facilities and opportunities that would help them succeed. His generosity has touched generations of Bulldogs, and his legacy will continue to be felt by our basketball programs every day."
 
Among the many contributions Ron made to Drake, one of the most visible came in 2013, when a naming gift helped bring to life a new basketball practice facility for the Bulldogs. The facility, which bears his family's name, the Shivers Basketball Practice Facility, provided Drake's men's and women's basketball programs with a dedicated home for practice, training, and student-athlete development.


 
"Every time our student-athletes and coaches walk into the Shivers Practice Facility, they are benefiting from Ron's generosity and his vision for what Drake Athletics could become," Hardin said. "That facility has played a critical role in the growth and success of Drake Basketball, but Ron's impact was about much more than a building. He was a loyal Bulldog whose generosity, leadership and friendship made Drake a better place."
 
The Shivers family's connection to Drake is extensive. Ron's wife, Bev Shivers, worked at Drake for many years and shared Ron's strong connection to the University. Their daughters, Kelli Gallagher, who currently serves as president of Dee Zee, Inc., the company Ron built and led in Des Moines, and Kerri Minor, Dee Zee's Director of Human Services, are both Drake graduates. Ron and Bev's grandchildren Trevor Gallagher, his wife, Hannah, as well as Austin Gallagher and his wife, Jocelyn, are also Drake alumni.
 
Through his business leadership, philanthropy and service to the community, Ron left an enduring mark on Des Moines and on Drake University. For Drake Athletics, his name will forever be connected to a facility that has helped generations of Bulldog student-athletes pursue excellence on the court, in the classroom and beyond.
 
"On behalf of everyone at Drake Athletics, we extend our deepest condolences to Bev, Kelli and the entire Shivers family," Hardin said. "We are thankful for Ron's friendship, his belief in Drake and the remarkable legacy he leaves behind. We will miss him, and we will always be proud that the Shivers name is such an important part of Drake Athletics."