The TCU AddRan College of Liberal Arts accepted a $100,000 contribution in April from Silver & Black Give Back, the non-profit organization of San Antonio Spurs Sports & Entertainment, to help fund the Lance Cpl. Benjamin Whetstone Schmidt Professorship in History.

In a ceremony between the first and second quarters of the Apr. 12 San Antonio-Sacramento game, Spurs chairman Peter Holt presented the six-figure check to Spurs team physician and Benjamin’s father Dr. David Schmidt and AddRan Dean Andrew Schoolmaster.

The endowment honors Lance Cpl. Schmidt, a San Antonio native who attended TCU before joining the Marine Corps and becoming a sniper. He was killed in the line of duty in Afghanistan on April 6, 2011. Before serving overseas, Schmidt elected to split his $400,000 life insurance policy between his mother and TCU.

Dr. Schmidt, who has has served as the Spurs team physician for 20 years, and wife Teresa launched the endowment with a personal contribution of $100,000, with a goal of raising $1 million to fund the professorship.

“The entire Spurs family has been supportive of our family ever since Benjamin’s death,” Dr. Schmidt told the San Antonio Express-News before the ceremony. “They’ve supported us through the really tough times and now in Benjamin’s behalf. We’re honored and humble to be part of this organization. Obviously, they take good care of their family.”

After graduating from Alamo Heights High School, Schmidt enrolled at TCU. During his sophomore year he made the decision to withdraw from school and join the Marines. Following sniper school, he twice volunteered fto fight in Afghanistan, first to gain combat experience and then to lead a group of inexperienced Marine snipers who had never been in combat. Prior to his second deployment, Schmidt decided that upon his return home that he would retire from the Marines, re-enroll at TCU and pursue a career as a professor of history.

He was killed in October 2011, while on sniper patrol, in the Helmand Province. He was 24.

“When we lost Benjamin we had a choice,” said Dr. Schmidt. “We could sit still and fill our days with pity and anger or we could figure out a way to honor our son. In recognition of his service to his country, his passion for history and his love for TCU, this was an easy decision. We’re excited that Benjamin will have a positive impact on generation after generation of students. We believe this endowment will help keep his spirit alive.”

After his death the Benjamin Whetstone Schmidt Memorial Scholarship Fund was created at TCU. The fund was created at Benjamin’s request, based on a conversation with his father before his second deployment, and is open to graduate students in TCU’s history department. To date the scholarship fund has raised over $500,000.

“While we still live with pain on a daily basis it brings us great pleasure to honor Benjamin, first with the scholarship and now with the endowment,” said Schmidt. “Just as we are proud of the man he became, we know he’d be proud of us, his family and friends, for creating a lasting legacy in his name.”

Those wishing to support the endowment can send memorials to LCpl Benjamin W. Schmidt Professorship, Office of University Development, Texas Christian University, TCU Box 297044, Fort Worth, TX 76129 or make a gift online at www.makeagift.tcu.edu designated to the Benjamin W. Schmidt Professorship.

On the Web:
San Antonio Express-News coverage
The TCU Magazine news story on Schmidt named TCU as beneficiary
Washington Post feature on Benjamin Schmidt
Fort Worth Star-Telegram feature on Benjamin Schmidt

To help:
Donate to the Schmidt Endowed Professorship at HeartofPurple.com or makeagift.tcu.edu and designate the Benjamin W. Schmidt Professorship.

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