FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JANUARY 28, 2016 Contact: Blayne Beal, Communications Director cell

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1 TIGER PRATT CAMPAIGN Change That You Can Feel Lubbock City Council District 2 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JANUARY 28, 2016 Contact: Blayne Beal, Communications Director [email protected] cell TIGER PRATT ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY FOR LUBBOCK CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 2 Pratt delivers his Change That You Can Feel message to supporters at Charles Adams Gallery LUBBOCK, Texas Tiger Pratt, a Lubbock native and long-time resident, formally announced his candidacy for Lubbock City Council District 2 at a 1:30 p.m. news conference today at the Charles Adams Gallery in downtown Lubbock. Pratt, 41, will be vying for a seat on the council that has been held by Floyd Price since Price announced in February of last year that he would not seek re-election after serving District 2 for over a decade. This is a culmination of a life-long dream, Pratt said. Public service and the opportunity to enact real change in our community is something that I feel called to do. I look forward to rallying the citizens of District 2 over the next several weeks so that we may project a clear vision not only for the district but for the entire city of Lubbock. Under the banner of Change That You Can Feel, Pratt vows to provide effective and balanced leadership through the development and implementation of plans, strategies and programs to permanently remove the obstacles and barriers that impede the residents of North and East Lubbock. Our district has its share of problems and challenges but we also have tremendous opportunity, Pratt noted. In order to take ownership and responsibility, it s imperative that we work together and create a long term funding strategy that will position our community to underwrite the necessary programs and initiatives that will move us forward. Pratt is the son of Shirley and the late Donald Ray Pratt. He and his two sisters Margaret and Tina spent their early childhood years in East Lubbock before eventually moving to follow the blossoming career of their mother. Tiger s entrepreneurial spirit came from his mom, as she became the first African-American woman to own and operate a business in West Lubbock. A high school athlete and debater, Pratt went on to spend the majority of his professional career in banking. After working for Wells Fargo as a personal banker, he moved over to BBVA Compass as Vice President and was the top performer in the district and fourth out of 293 branches in Texas. Like his mother, Pratt followed an inner desire to own his own business and has been a small business owner for the last year and a half. He currently owns and operates the Credit Repair Guy and Mortgage Central Station. Crediting Christ for the turnaround of his life, Pratt has been actively involved in helping churches and ministries throughout Lubbock since To follow, contribute or voice your support for the Tiger Pratt Campaign, log on to or follow on Twitter (@Tiger4District2) and Facebook (facebook.com/tiger4district2)

2 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Blayne Beal The Gibraltar Group Announces Partnership With Human Resources Specialist Mark Mitford LUBBOCK, Texas (July 14, 2015) The Gibraltar Group, a risk management firm with offices in Lubbock and Dallas, announces a new partnership with human resources specialist Mark Mitford. Mitford, a human resources professional with over 20 years of experience, will bring a wealth of expert knowledge to the company. He has extensive background and success in the areas of talent management, leadership development, change management and organizational transformation. Mark Mitford has the ability to help an organization improve performance through strategically managing its greatest asset people, said Brandt Beal, President and CEO of The Gibraltar Group. In today s business climate, effective and strategic human resources management is vital to the overall health of an organization. His genuine desire to improve the overall well being of an organization follows the values of the Gibraltar Group. Over the course of his career, Mitford has successfully driven financial growth for companies by aligning human capital strategies with business objectives and advising leadership teams on increasing profitability. He has held key human resources positions in midsize to Fortune 50 companies in a variety of industries, including telecommunications, consumer packaged goods, insurance, real estate services, semiconductor and professional services. I am thrilled to be partnering with The Gibraltar Group, given their expertise in risk management, and my background in human resources and human capital strategy, said Mitford. I m confident that this will be a great alliance not only for ourselves but also for our many client companies. He holds a bachelor s degree in psychology from Baylor University along with an M.B.A. in Strategy and International Management from St. Mary s University and a master s in organizational psychology from the University of Texas at Dallas. He owns and operates HR Catalyst Consulting. About The Gibraltar Group With offices in Lubbock and Dallas, The Gibraltar Group is a risk management firm advising companies in the energy/oil field services, transportation and manufacturing industries in all areas of financial, strategic and operational risk. For more information, visit # # #

3 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: Friday, August 29, 2014 Contact: Blayne Beal (806) Office (806) Cell TEXAS TECH ANNOUNCES THE CAMPAIGN FOR FEARLESS CHAMPIONS The initiative is the first athletics specific capital campaign in school history LUBBOCK, Texas Texas Tech Director of Athletics Kirby Hocutt will formally announce The Campaign For Fearless Champions at a news conference scheduled for Friday afternoon at the Football Training Facility. The Campaign for Fearless Champions is a comprehensive athletics campaign that will significantly impact every student-athlete and all 17 sports. The campaign includes four components and is the first athletic specific campaign in university history. The Campaign for Fearless Champions will: Enhance athletic facilities Invest in the athletic scholarship endowment Grow the Leadership Academy Provide for the future of Texas Tech Athletics By impacting athletic facilities, scholarship endowments and the Fearless Champions Leadership Academy, The Campaign for Fearless Champions will impact every student-athlete in every sport. The initiative totals $185 million with $75 million already committed from generous Texas Tech friends and donors. Facilities Texas Tech s goal of providing state-of-the-art facilities for its student-athletes is at the forefront of The Campaign for Fearless Champions. Progress towards the facility upgrades/additions is underway as a total of eight projects have recently been completed or have been funded and are in progress. Those projects include: United Supermarkets Arena Team Facilities Renovations Indoor Soccer Facility Football Video Board North End Zone Colonnade United Supermarkets Arena Weight Room Renovation Baseball Grandstand and Clubhouse Roof Track and Field Team Building The Rawls Course Bunker Restoration

4 A total of 25 facility projects are the focus of the campaign and will include the construction of an indoor football training facility, a renovation of the south end zone stadium building and a new indoor track and field complex. Scholarship Endowment Another major component of the campaign is the growth of the athletics scholarship endowment. The athletics department has set a goal to raise $10 million in new scholarship endowments to reach a total endowment goal of $20 million. Increasing scholarship endowments to $20 million by the year 2020 represents a critical investment in the future of Texas Tech student-athletes and the academic mission of the university. Fearless Champions Leadership Academy This comprehensive program, led by Hall of Fame Coach Marsha Sharp, will ensure that studentathletes are prepared for success after graduation. The program focuses on developing character for a lifetime and preparing students to be a positive influence in their communities. The campaign seeks to raise $5 million to establish an endowment that will fund leadership academy curriculum and programming. The leadership academy will develop, challenge and support Texas Tech student athletes in their continual quest to become world-class leaders in athletics, academics and life. Provide For The Future The fourth component of the campaign will help provide for the future of Texas Tech Athletics. The athletics department has set a goal to raise $10 million in new planned gifts. Planned gifts are a crucial investment in the department s future and provide an opportunity for Red Raiders to leave a lasting legacy on Texas Tech Athletics. University Leadership On The Campaign For Fearless Champions There has never been more excitement and opportunity for our athletic programs at Texas Tech University. We are committed to developing and graduating high-character student athletes, and The Campaign for Fearless Champions will impact each one of them as we take Texas Tech athletics to new heights. In reaching these levels of national prominence, we will need the continued support of our fellow Red Raiders, fans and friends not only in the stands, but also through contributions to this campaign. TTU System Chancellor Robert Duncan "Texas Tech University is an emerging institution nationally in all areas, including athletics. The future of college athletics and its impact on universities' academic missions will likely be unparalleled by the past. Moving forward it is vital for us to compete at the highest levels, both athletically and academically. Today's announcement is one that represents a step in reaching a new level of competitiveness. Dr. Duane Nellis, President, Texas Tech University

5 We as a Red Raider nation believe we have a bold future in front of us. We embrace the rising expectations we have for ourselves. With that we believe we have the ability to experience unprecedented success as an athletics program as we move forward. The Campaign for Fearless Champions, obviously, is one of the components of our plan as to how we are going to achieve national success. It s the right time for us to look at and prepare for our future. Our time is now to continue to elevate Texas Tech athletics to the top nationally. Kirby Hocutt, Director of Athletics For more information or to make a donation to The Campaign for Fearless Champions, visit the campaign website located at For additional donor information, please contact Andrea Tirey at (806) or by at [email protected]. Media requests should be directed to Blayne Beal at (806) or by at [email protected]. --TECH--

6 TEXAS TECH ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: Tuesday, February 17, 2015 Contact: Blayne Beal (806) Office (806) Cell TEXAS TECH AGREES TO SIX-YEAR EXTENSION WITH UNDER ARMOUR New agreement runs through June 2020 LUBBOCK, Texas Texas Tech University has agreed to a six-year contract extension with Under Armour, Inc. (NYSE: UA) to remain as the exclusive official outfitter of the Red Raiders. The new agreement extends the partnership through June 30, Under Armour will continue to design and supply the footwear, apparel, and equipment for training and game-day uniforms for Texas Tech University s men s and women s varsity athletic teams. In addition to outfitting the Red Raider athletic department, the partnership also includes integration into the brand s marketing, social media, in-store and grassroots activations. Under Armour has been a tremendous partner with Texas Tech Athletics and we look forward to extending that relationship, Director of Athletics Kirby Hocutt said. Under Armour is one of the most innovative brands around the world and our student-athletes really enjoy the products they deliver to our teams. We sincerely appreciate all the attention and visibility that Under Armour has provided for our athletics program. The Red Raiders are a celebrated part of Under Armour s heritage, said Nick Carparelli, Senior Director, College Sports, Under Armour. We look forward to our continued presence on their student athletes and in the entire Texas Tech community both on and off campus. Under Armour became the exclusive outfitter for Texas Tech Athletics on July 1, 2009, marking the first department wide apparel provider in school history. The Red Raiders will remain a key partner to the Under Armour brand s growing roster of NCAA programs that includes the University of Notre Dame, Naval Academy Athletic Association, Auburn University, University of Maryland and the University of South Carolina. About Under Armour, Inc. Under Armour (NYSE: UA), the originator of performance footwear, apparel and equipment, revolutionized how athletes across the world dress. Designed to make all athletes better, the

7 brand's innovative products are sold worldwide to athletes at all levels. Under Armour's wholly owned subsidiary, MapMyFitness, powers one of the world's largest Connected Fitness communities. The Under Armour global headquarters is in Baltimore, Maryland. For further information, please visit the Company's website at --TECH--

8 TEXAS TECH ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: Wednesday, December 12, 2012 Contact: Blayne Beal (806) Office (806) Cell KLIFF KINGSBURY NAMED HEAD COACH AT TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY Former Red Raider comes home and will be the 15 th head coach in school history LUBBOCK, Texas Kliff Kingsbury, Texas Tech s second all-time leading passer, returns to his alma mater and becomes the 15 th head football coach in school history. At age 33, Kingsbury is the youngest head coach in a BCS conference and the second youngest in the FBS behind Toledo s Matt Campbell. Kingsbury will be formally introduced at a news conference on Friday. Details on that news conference will be announced soon. Kingsbury returns home after a one-year stint as offensive coordinator at Texas A&M where he played a huge role in leading freshman quarterback Johhny Manziel to the Heisman Trophy. Under his guidance, the Aggie offense finished third nationally in total offense by averaging yards per-game. The Aggies ranked 14 th nationally in passing offense and 13 th nationally in rushing offense, making Texas A&M one of the most balanced attacks in college football. For the second consecutive year Kingsbury was named the national offensive coordinator of the year. Kingsbury made the move to Texas A&M from the University of Houston where he played a key role in the Cougars' record-setting 13-win season in The Cougars finished 2011 with a 13-1 record and posted the program's highest final BCS finish in school history (No. 19). Kingsbury served as co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Cougars, and was named the 2011 Offensive Coordinator of the Year by FootballScoop.com. The Cougars led the nation in total offense, passing offense and scoring in 2011, while record-setting quarterback Case Keenum placed seventh in the Heisman Trophy voting and won the Sammy Baugh Award. With Kingsbury calling the offensive plays, the Cougars averaged total yards per game, including through the air, while scoring over 49 points per game. The Cougars scored over 70 points in two games in 2011, and finished the season with a win over Penn State in the TicketCity Bowl. Kingsbury was instrumental in the continued development of Keenum, who finished his illustrious career as the most prolific passer in NCAA FBS history. In his one season with Kingsbury as his QB coach, Keenum completed 428-of-604 passes for 5,631 yards and 48 touchdowns, all NCAA FBS bests.

9 In his first season as QB coach at Houston in 2010, Kingsbury prepped a true freshman signal caller, David Piland, to an average of yards passing per game, which ranked No. 3 nationally. He was named to the Sporting News Freshman All-America team. After an eight-year professional football career, Kingsbury entered the coaching ranks in the spring of 2008 when he joined Sumlin's staff as an offensive quality control assistant. A sixth-round draft pick in 2003 by the New England Patriots, Kingsbury played for five NFL teams and also saw action in the Canadian Football League and the All-American Football League. Kingsbury was drafted by Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots after a record-setting career at Texas Tech. Kingsbury received multiple honors including Associated Press Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year as a quarterback for the Red Raiders. In addition, he set 39 school records, 16 Big 12 marks and 17 NCAA records during his career at Tech ( ). As a senior he was awarded the Sammy Baugh Trophy, presented annually to the nation's best college quarterback. The first in a long line of record-setting Texas Tech quarterbacks under then-head coach Mike Leach, Kingsbury recorded more than 12,000 passing yards and total offense including over 1,000 pass completions making him only the third player in NCAA history to accomplish all three. Kingsbury also excelled in the classroom as he was one of 14 collegiate football players to receive a post-graduate scholarship from the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame as he also garnered Academic All- America Player of the Year honors in A native of New Braunfels, Texas, Kingsbury graduated from Texas Tech in 2001 with a bachelor's degree in management. --TECH--