The dedication of the newly-named McFarland Library will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday, June 27, in front of the library entrance at Southwest Minnesota State University.
The library is being named for D.C. "Pat" McFarland Jr., who recently gifted $2 million to the university in support of student scholarships and library resources.
McFarland was a supporter of education and the arts in the Marshall community during his lifetime. He died March 31, 2010. He founded the property development company, the McFarland Company, in 1954, and McFarland worked there until his passing at the age of 91.
McFarland was honored with an Honorary Lifetime Membership award by the SMSU Alumni Association in 2005, and his legacy will live on through his support of the university library and scholarships for students who will study there.
"Pat really became a good friend," said SMSU President David Danahar. "His gift to the university will benefit the institution and future students, and this is a good way to remember him and what he meant to the university and the community."
McFarland also gifted $1 million to the Pride in the Tiger Foundation in support of scholarships for graduating Marshall High School seniors. He left $200,000 to the Avera Marshall Foundation.
McFarland's two sisters, Ruth Byers Carlstrom of Urbandale, Iowa, and Kathleen Brown of Chaska, will be at the dedication. The public is invited to attend.