LUBBOCK -- Wayland Baptist University honored longtime Lubbock realtor and developer Delbert McDougal on Friday at the 19th Annual National Philanthropy Day luncheon held at the Overton Hotel.
McDougal was one of a dozen individuals or businesses receiving the Spirit of Philanthropy Award from member entities of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, which organizes the annual event. Members of Wayland's advancement staff, who hold AFP memberships, were in attendance to honor McDougal for years of service and generosity to the university.
McDougal served on Wayland's Board of Trustees for 18 years, one of those as board chairman. He was instrumental in the campaign to fund the Pete and Nelda Laney Student Activities Center. He has also provided business expertise and counsel and other Wayland projects, including property purchases in Lubbock including the Wayland commercial center on 19th Street and West Loop 289 which generates ongoing funding for the university. Along the way, the McDougals have provided generous funding for many WBU projects and endeavors.
He and wife Carolyn have received Wayland's Distinguished Benefactor Award from the Association of Former Students for longtime giving, and the advancement staff presented its Keeper of the Flame Award for generosity to the university several years ago.
McDougal was the driving force for the ongoing Overton revitalization in Lubbock that has transformed so much of the central downtown area and made Lubbock the envy of cities many times its size.
The luncheon also featured the presentation of overall awards for outstanding volunteer and professional fundraisers, outstanding corporate and associational philanthropists and outstanding individual philanthropists as nominated by AFP member organizations.