Search the Community

I'm not sure everyone knows that much about our generous new Board of Regent Member whose name adorns the new basketball practice facility and also winner of the 2013 Uyls Knight Spirit award. One big thing you notice is he raised some damn good golfers -- Ernie's children -- Kelli, Trip and Hank -- have won more United States Golf Association championships than any family in history. Here's a link to a video and bio of him from the UNT Alumni Awards page: http://www.unt.edu/alumniawards/2013/recipients.htm Ulys Knight Spirit Award Ernie Kuehne ('66) Ernie Kuehne Jr., a native of Mart, Texas, came to the university in 1962 on a track scholarship. After earning his bachelor's degree in political science in 1966, Kuehne earned a law degree from Baylor University in 1969. In August 2012, Kuehne chaired UNT's Basketball Enhancement Committee, which raised more than $3 million in gifts for a new basketball training facility, a state-of-the-art scoreboard in the UNT Coliseum and additional funding for scholarships. As part of that campaign, Kuehne presented the athletic department with a cornerstone $1 million gift. Texas Gov. Rick Perry appointed Kuehne to the University of North Texas System Board of Regents in January 2013. Kuehne is president and board chairman of Kuehne Oil Co. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas. He is a member of the UNT President's Council, UNT McConnell Society and Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity Alumni Advisory Board, and a life member of the UNT Alumni Association and UNT Ex-Letterman's Association. Kuehne is a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason and a volunteer for the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children and Greater Dallas Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. He is also past chair of the Farmers and Merchants National Bank Board of Directors, past president of the American Junior Golf Association and a past member of the Park Cities YMCA Sports Committee. Kuehne is very proud of his family members, particularly their successes on the golf course. The Kuehne family, Ernie's children -- Kelli, Trip and Hank -- have won more United States Golf Association championships than any family in history.

Kuehne to Receive Fred McCain Award Denton, Texas -- In 2012, Athletic Director Rick Villarreal spoke with the Hall of Fame Committee about the need to recognize the efforts and contributions to the advancement of the athletic department by people who were not eligible through the normal channels as an athlete, coach, athletic administrator or staff. The committee agreed and included Villarreal’s selection, C. Dan Smith, as part of its’ Hall of Fame Class. In an effort to create a formal award, the Athletic Department has now created the Fred McCain Award, named after the former athlete, coach and athletic director to be presented to individuals whose contributions and efforts advance the athletic program in major ways. This year’s honoree of the award is Ernie Kuehne. “It takes outstanding student-athletes, coaches and administrators to achieve success on the field and the very best end up in our Hall of Fame. However, it also takes the support and involvement of donors and volunteers who help effect change that advances the program in major ways, said Villarreal. “That’s why we chose to name the award in honor of Fred. It honors the over 40 years of program-changing service given by “Coach” McCain, whether helping break the color barrier, serving as an outstanding coach and mentor to young players or leading the department as Athletic Director. He had to make tough choices to keep the department solvent and he made them because it was in the best interest of all athletics. His name and this honor belong together.” In recognizing Kuehne, Villarreal stated that few individuals have had the type of impact Kuehne has had in such a short period of time. Kuehne, a 1966 graduate of North Texas, made an initial $1 million pledge in January of 2011 to help with Apogee Stadium and other department needs. His commitment didn’t stop with the monetary gift. A year later Mr. Kuehne agreed to chair the basketball enhancement committee whose main priorities included a basketball practice facility and a new scoreboard and sound system in the Super Pit. In 30 days, the group raised over $3 million in pledges, including an additional $1million dollar gift from Kuehne himself. The basketball practice facility was quickly completed and has been in use since March while the additions to the Super Pit were completed in May. “Ernie Kuehne was invested from the day we met in the fall of 2010. I saw the tear run down his cheek and I knew he cared when he recalled the experiences and opportunities that North Texas had provided for a young, humble boy from Mart, Texas,” said Villarreal. “He wanted to give back and he has in a big way. Our basketball program, our student-athletes, our coaching staff and the university will benefit for years to come due to his commitment.” Kuehne will be honored at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony in the spring of 2014 along with 2013 Hall of Fame inductees 2013 Jim Cooper, Scott Hall, Heather Hutyra, Corky Nelson, and Cody Spencer at halftime of the homecoming game Saturday vs. UTEP. Eric Capper Senior Associate Athletics Director University of North Texas www.MeanGreenSports.com

UNT’s push to build a basketball practice facility appears to be picking up some steam. I mentioned a while back that the project is one of a few the UNT athletic department has a committee formed to look into. Uber booster Ernie Kuehne is on the committee and told me a while back that he will play a key financial role in the project. UNT has looked into what the best locations are for a practice facility. The committee considered the gym across from the Super Pit that is now used extensively by the university for physical education classes, both in the gym and in the classrooms that are also located in the facility. The logistics of putting a practice facility in that location didn’t make sense, so the committee has now moved on and has settled on a vacant gym on the old Liberty Christian High School campus that is now a part of the Mean Green Village. UNT converted one of the gyms in that facility into the Mean Green Volleyball Center. Read more: http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2012/08/basketball-practice-facility-tidbits.html/

Read more: http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/archives/2012/05/ernie-kuehne-to-head-up-push-f.html