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MAC Donor Spotlight: Billy and Christie McCartney
December 04, 2015 11:04 AM | General
Billy and Christie McCartney of Houston, Texas, are the first to be featured in the MAC Donor Spotlight series.
Both graduates of WVU, they have been active in the WVU Lone Star Alumni Chapter in Houston. They helped to restart the chapter and served as Activities Chairs and VPs of Membership during their tenure before serving as Co-Presidents from 2006-2009.
Billy, who graduated in 1995 with a degree in chemical engineering, is the CEO of Flat Rock Energy and serves on the Board of Directors of the WVU Foundation.
Christie graduated with a degree in interdepartmental studies in 1996, and currently sits on the WVU Alumni Association Board of Directors.
The McCartney’s have two daughters, Katie Reese and Kinley, and a son, Kellen.
Q & A
- A Mountaineer is…
Someone who takes pride in and is a fan of West Virginia University. A Mountaineer never forgets where he or she came from, even if they live far away.
- We are Mountaineer Athletic Club members because….
We love WVU athletics! We have seen first-hand the benefit that the MAC has on student athletes.
- Do you have any gameday superstitions?
Christie: If we lose, I don’t wear that shirt to a game ever again – it gets banished to the “non-gameday” part of my closet. I’ve been known to mark “X’s” on the tags of clothing.
- What is your best memory of WVU Athletics?
Billy: 1993 Miami-WVU football game in Morgantown (and maybe rushing the field afterward).
Christie: There are so many for me. Since Billy already mentioned the Miami game, I’d have to say being in Madison Square Garden when WVU won the Big East Basketball Championship against Georgetown in 2010. Or the experience of going to the 2010 Final Four in Indianapolis. Or the basketball win over UCLA in Pauley Pavilion in 2006. Or the 2006 Sugar Bowl in Atlanta. Or the 2007 Fiesta Bowl. Or the most recent basketball tournament win in Puerto Rico over Thanksgiving in 2014. We were there in person for all of those wins, and each one was a “Best Memory.” After each win we would think “we are SO glad we made this trip!”
- What about WVU Athletics is most meaningful to you?
The fact that it brings together the state, WVU alumni and students. WVU Athletics raises the profile of our school on a national level. It is its own public relations machine for the University and helps to promote our outstanding academics as well.
- What motivated you to give back to WVU Athletics?
We’ve always been sports fans. When we moved to Houston we became more aware that WVU athletic teams are the face of the University. As opportunities arose to support different athletic programs in a meaningful way, we jumped on board immediately.
- Tell us about some of the projects that you have supported and why you chose to do so?
Among the projects we have supported include the Basketball Practice Facility and the new Football Team room at Milan Puskar Stadium. We’ve also made donations toward Olympic sports. We are fans of all WVU Athletic programs!
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