Jacksonville University announced a transformational gift from Lee and Becky Nimnicht as part of the University's Future. Made. comprehensive campaign. The gift will support a host of initiatives and continues a tradition of Nimnicht family investment in Jacksonville University and its athletics programs. As part of this commitment, the Nimnichts have provided the lead gift for the commission of a permanent statue on campus of basketball legend and Hall of Famer Artis Gilmore ’71.
Artis Gilmore, nicknamed "the A-Train," is one of the most dominant players in college basketball history. As the driving force behind the historic 1970 NCAA Championship game appearance, Gilmore led the Dolphins to a 27-2 record and elevated JU to national prominence. His career rebounding average of 22.7 per game remains the highest in NCAA Division I history. Following his playing career at JU, Gilmore went on to a 17-season professional career in the ABA and NBA, earning Naismith Hall of Fame induction in 2011 and recognition as one of the game's all-time great centers.
“Jacksonville University has given me so much — a place to grow, a team to believe in, and a community that never stopped believing in me,” said Artis Gilmore. “Those years as a Dolphin shaped everything that came after. This is where my heart is. To know that a piece of that will live on permanently on this campus is something I never could have imagined, and I am truly humbled by it.”
Gilmore has remained deeply connected to Jacksonville University long after his playing days, serving as Special Assistant to the President and tireless ambassador for the University and the city of Jacksonville.
“In 92 years, Jacksonville University has honored only one person with a permanent statue on this campus, our matriarch Dr. Frances Bartlett Kinne, and now we are proud to add a second, the greatest JU student-athlete ever, Artis Gilmore,” said Jacksonville University President Tim Cost. “He elevated this university onto the national stage as a student-athlete and has remained a treasured ambassador for our institution for more than five decades. Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of Lee and Becky Nimnicht, future generations of Dolphins will always know his legacy.”
Lee Nimnicht '90 has long been among Jacksonville University's most dedicated advocates. His commitment to the University is both personal and generational. The Nimnicht name is woven throughout campus, from the Billy Nimnicht Jr. Court, named after Lee’s father, inside Swisher Gymnasium and the Nimnicht Fitness Center to Nimnicht family scholarships that have enhanced experiences for countless students. In addition to Lee serving his second term on the JU Board of Trustees, his mother, Anne, and his father, Billy, also served on the board. Today, Lee's son, Lee Nimnicht Jr., continues the family tradition as a current JU student and graduate assistant in the Athletics department.
“Jacksonville University has been a part of my family for as long as I can remember, and that connection only deepens with time,” said Lee Nimnicht '90. “Artis Gilmore is the reason so many people first heard the name Jacksonville University. He helped put Jacksonville on the map, and we are proud to play a role in honoring his legacy in this way.”
The bronze sculpture of Artis Gilmore will be created by Hanlon Sculpture Studio, led by classically trained master sculptor Brian Hanlon. Based in Toms River, N.J., Hanlon is the official sculptor of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and has completed more than 550 permanent installations worldwide, including tributes to Shaquille O'Neal, Dominique Wilkins and Charles Barkley.
Support the A-Train campaign and help us bring the Artis Gilmore statue to campus.
