A lasting partnership
Ron and Susan DeTemple first crossed paths on the campus of Marshall University in the early 1960s, a meeting that would set the stage for a lifelong partnership both in marriage and in service to their alma mater.
The couple’s daughters, Jill and Karen, have long viewed Marshall Athletics as an extension of their family, a sentiment that reflects the deep emotional bond the DeTemples share with the university and its storied sports tradition.
Their recent commitment materializes in the construction of the Ron & Susan DeTemple Basketball Operations Center, a state‑of‑the‑art facility slated to rise next to the Scaggs Family Practice Facility within Gullickson Hall, the very building where Ron once kept a modest room above the offices that hosted visiting teams.
The new center will house modernized training spaces, advanced technological infrastructure and dedicated workrooms, including a suite for Coach John Marshall’s staff, ensuring that the program can compete at the highest level while preserving the historic character of the campus.
Gerald J. Harrison, Marshall’s Vice President and Director of Athletics, praised the DeTemples’ generosity, noting that their contribution embodies the university’s rallying cry to “Take Care of the House,” a mantra that underscores the institution’s dedication to its facilities and community.
The gift joins a suite of prior contributions from Kim Lawrence and Steve New, reinforcing a pattern of support that has seen the DeTemples fund scholarships, bolster the Big Green Scholarship Foundation and sustain the broader athletic ecosystem for decades.
Beyond his role as President of R.D. Properties and R.D. Developers, Ron DeTemple has been instrumental in facilitating coaching transitions and securing resources that keep the program competitive, a testament to his enduring influence on Marshall’s basketball landscape.
The DeTemples’ philosophy of “Service Above Self,” cultivated through decades of Rotary Club involvement, drives their belief that the greatest impact comes from investing in the next generation of student‑athletes, a principle that guided the decision to honor Susan’s memory through this landmark donation.