Maurice J. Gallagher, Jr. has been actively involved in the management of Allegiant Air since he became the majority owner and joined the board of directors in June 2001. He became chief executive officer in August 2003. Allegiant Travel Company is the the parent company of Allegiant Air.

Before joining Allegiant, Mr. Gallagher devoted his time to his investment activities, including companies that he founded. One of those companies was Mpower Communications Corp., a telecommunications firm, for which he served as acting chief executive officer and as chairman of the board.

Mr. Gallagher also was a founder of ValuJet Airlines, Inc. (one of the predecessors to AirTran Airways, Inc.) and served as an officer and director of ValuJet from its inception in 1993 until 1997. From 1983 until 1992, he was a principal owner and executive of WestAir, a commuter airline.

An alumnus of UC Davis, Mr. Gallagher is an active and longtime supporter of the Graduate School of Management. He is a former member of the School’s Dean’s Advisory Council and addressed students as a keynote speaker at commencement in 2000.

Mr. Gallagher received his Bachelor of Arts in history from UC Davis in 1971 and an MBA from UC Berkeley in 1974. He lives in Las Vegas, Nev., with his wife, Marcia, and their two children.

We are grateful to Maurice J. and Marcia Gallagher for their $10 million gift—the largest single gift to the campus by any UC Davis alumnus—to name Maurice J. Gallagher, Jr. Hall. Their generous gift has a transformational impact on the quality of the Graduate School of Management’s new building and strengthens the School’s ability to provide students with world-class academic programs and opportunities.