SMU alumnus George Killebrew ’85 will receive the SEAL Legacy Foundation Unsung Hero Award at the organization’s seventh annual benefit and gala on November 14. The Unsung Hero Award recognizes outstanding support for the United States Armed Forces.
Killebrew serves as executive vice president of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks. He earned a B.B.A. from SMU and is actively involved with his alma mater as a member of the SMU Alumni Board and volunteer.
Jerry Jones, owner, president and general manager of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, and professional golfer Lexi Thompson will receive the SEAL Legacy Award, presented each year to distinguished Americans who have demonstrated a lifetime of unwavering commitment to the U.S. Armed Forces and, in particular, the U.S. Navy SEALs. Past recipients include SMU Trustees Ray Hunt ’65, David B. Miller ’72, ’73 and Paul B. Loyd, Jr. ’68, who was honored with his wife, Penny Loyd.
All proceeds from the event will benefit the SEAL Legacy Foundation, a non-profit organization established and operated by U.S. Navy SEALs that provides support to families of wounded and fallen SEALs, educational assistance for SEALs and their families, and other charitable causes benefiting the SEAL community.
The annual SEAL Legacy Foundation Benefit & Gala – featuring food, drinks, entertainment and special presentations by the U.S. Navy Seals – will begin at 6 p.m. on November 14 at AT&T Stadium in Dallas. Tickets may be purchased at www.SEALLegacy.org.
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George Killebrew ’85: Helping SMU students break into the big time
Tag: George Killebrew
Connor Kolodziej ’19 was so excited about his winter break externship that he was up by 5:30 a.m. so he would be early to the office of George Killebrew ’85, executive vice president with the Dallas Mavericks.
Kolodziej didn’t know what to expect going in. He just knew a chance to work in a sports organization was something he’d always dreamed about. Dallas’ five professional sports teams had attracted the Atlanta, Georgia, resident and lifelong sports lover to SMU, where he is majoring in applied physiology and sport management in the Simmons School of Education and Human Development. So it made perfect sense to pursue a one-day opportunity to get an inside look at the business operations of a legendary team.
Little did he know then that it would land him a three-month summer internship with the team.
SMU’s Hegi Family Career Development Center connected Kolodziej with Killebrew, who’d received his BBA from the Cox School of Business. “When I found out George was with the Mavericks, I was very excited,” says Kolodziej. “The day exceeded my expectations. I understood the daily operations. Everyone was friendly and happy, and that really encouraged me about my future.”
“It’s actually a simple thing,” says Killebrew, who is also a member of the SMU Alumni Board. “Anytime someone comes in, whether it’s for a summerlong internship or a day’s externship, we want to make sure they get a full flavor of the organization and the different business roles within. A lot of people see the Mavericks and think about the basketball piece of it. But we’re over in a warehouse in Deep Ellum. We’re selling tickets and sponsorships and merchandise. Connor came in and spent pretty much the whole day with us. My whole staff took time with him. So everybody had 30 or 45 minutes with him. We’re always trying to help out – especially someone who wants to get into sports.”
Kolodziej values how the externship helped with his longer-term career aspirations. “I got to make new connections and meet new people who didn’t go to SMU. It also helped me see new aspects – so it broadened my horizon about where I’d like to go in the future.”
He parlayed his winter externship into a summer internship by “staying in contact with George and everyone else I talked to during my winter externship. You never know what is out there unless you ask.” In assisting the Mavs’ corporate sponsorship team this summer with promotions and programs, Kolodziej hopes to gain deeper insights into sports organizations and continue to “learn as much as possible.”
Killebrew, who grew up in Hawaii, credits his SMU education and SMU connections to getting him where he is now. “I was a bit sheltered growing up on an island. When I got to SMU, I met people from all different walks of life, all 50 states and a lot of foreign countries. That really helped prepare me for the real world.”
After graduation, Killebrew worked in the SMU Alumni association for two years, then “I got a job in the Athletics department at SMU. So I was working for the Mustang Club, which opened the door to get me here to the Mavericks – because the people at SMU were helping me take the next steps.”
Killebrew encourages others to take advantage of SMU alumni connections. “There are so many resources, in the city of Dallas and within the SMU alumni community, that you can pretty much accomplish anything you want, regardless of your field. Alumni are willing to help. They just need to be asked.”
Kolodziej appreciates how SMU is helping him pursue the career of his dreams and emphatically recommends the externship experience to other SMU students. “I loved the whole day. I learned so much. SMU has a great connection with alumni, and George pushed home the importance of networking and meeting new people, especially as a student in college. And the most important thing I learned is to find a good place not just to work, but also to enjoy what you do.”