A dinner honoring The University of Texas at Austin’s head football coach, Mack Brown, for his dedication to leadership on and off the field will be held Friday, May 16, at 7 p.m. at the Four Seasons Hotel. 

Penn State University Football Coach Joe Paterno will give the keynote address, and former pro football great and sportscaster Lynn Swann will emcee the event.

The dinner will benefit The Mack Brown Distinguished Chair for Leadership in Global Affairs. The Mack Brown Chair will be part of the Robert S. Strauss Center for International Security and Law, a university-wide global affairs research center named after renowned lawyer and public servant Ambassador Robert S. Strauss.

The goal is to raise $2 million to fully endow the Chair. UT Athletics contributed $500,000 to the Chair as part of a $2.65 million gift made to The University for academic programs.

“One of my top priorities is to build this university’s research and educational programs in global affairs,” University of Texas at Austin President William Powers Jr. said. “These programs play an important part in determining the future of this university, and they will determine how we best prepare our students to be leaders in an increasingly globalized world.

“It is especially fitting that this Chair is named after one of the greatest leaders on campus, Coach Mack Brown. He is not only a great football coach, he is an effective mentor and role model for all of our students. He never forgets that he is part of an educational institution where leadership and preparation for success in life are priorities.”

“Sally and I are honored to be part of The University of Texas and its commitment to education and leadership,” Brown said. “Anyone would be humbled to have a prestigious Chair named for them.”

To attend the dinner, contact Elizabeth Boone at the LBJ Foundation at 512-232-2266.