The University of Nevada, Las Vegas has received the largest charitable gift pledge in Nevada history from James E. Rogers and the Rogers family for the new William S. Boyd School of Law. The donation, given through the UNLV Foundation, is a combination of an outright gift and pledges of future support that will total more than $28.5 million, UNLV President Carol C. Harter announced during a press conference and reception on Nov. 4 at the Richard Tam Alumni Center.

"Mr. Rogers' extremely generous gift will help us create one of the finest public law schools in the West," said Harter. "He is an outstanding business and community leader who has proven many times that he places an enormous value on higher education."

Rogers, a prominent Las Vegas attorney, founded Valley Broadcasting Company in 1971 and has served as CEO of KVBC-TV (Channel 3) in Las Vegas since 1979. He is also the principal owner of Sunbelt Communications Company, which owns and operates NBC-affiliate television stations in Nevada, Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.

"Education, especially my legal education, enabled me to succeed in business, and I want to share that success with future generations of students," Rogers said. "You can only create an exceptional law school if you have the money necessary to keep tuition low and attract outstanding faculty and students. It is also a privilege to help create the Louis Wiener Jr. Law Library to honor the memory of my long-time friend and partner."

Rogers and his wife, Beverly, are active supporters of education and have made substantial contributions to various colleges and universities in Nevada, Arizona, Idaho, and Montana.

"Jim Rogers is a true philanthropist, one who is setting a wonderful example for others to follow. This commitment will provide sign)ficant enhancements to the Boyd School of Law over the next several years. It will help us to build the great law school that this community deserves," said law school Dean Dick Morgan.