UF Named Facilities

James W. "Bill" Heavener Football Complex

Honoree

James W. "Bill" Heavener earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Florida in 1970. He is a member of the Gator Boosters, Inc. Board of Directors, a Distinguished Director and a Bull Gator, and has been a long-time supporter of UF athletics. Since 1992, he has served as co-chairman and CEO of Full Sail Real World Education, a highly-regarded entertainment media college in America, located in Winter Park, FL. James Heavener is a director and co-chairman of the Los Angeles Film School and the Los Angeles Recording School, both located in Hollywood, CA. He is the CEO of The Heavener Company, through which he holds and manages his interests in education, media production, internet services, real estate franchising, publishing, banks and information technology. His wife, Christie, earned a bachelor's degree in liberal arts and sciences from UF in 1971. James and Christie have two children.

Facility History

This is the first athletic facility project in University of Florida history that, from the planning stage, was to be funded 100% privately. Every consensus All-American has an 18" x 18" granite paver place into the walkway; with their name and year they achieved All-American honors. The seven Gators who have been elected into the College Football Hall of Fame are also recognized in the area. A spectacular 15-plus foot bronze Gator stands at the center of the entryway, paying tribute to Florida's 2006 National Championship Team. In 2009, The Heavener Football Complex received platinum certification from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, the highest ranking available. It is the first building in Florida and the first athletic facility in the nation to achieve platinum status.