A Shared Legacy: Carol and Jim Statter鈥檚 Playbook for Giving Back
Posted on April 10, 2026
When Jim Statter attended his first University of South Alabama football game with his wife, Carol, he wasn鈥檛 prepared for what he found.
鈥淚 saw fraternity brothers and other people I hadn鈥檛 seen in 60 years,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here must have been 30 of them. It was incredible how football brought everybody together.鈥�
When South鈥檚 football program began in 2009, the Statters immersed themselves in a community they hadn鈥檛 realized they missed.
Now, Carol and Jim Statter have made a $1.7 million planned gift to the University, with $1 million designated for the football program and $700,000 supporting the Literacy Center in the College of Education and Professional Studies.
Jim, a 1972 political science graduate, built his career in business as the former owner of Dixie Leasing and its subsidiaries. After first attending South in the 1970s, Carol returned to earn her degree in human resource management in 1994; she has worked more than 24 years as a workforce development coordinator and leader in professional organizations across the region.
They鈥檝e been deeply involved in civic and educational causes throughout Mobile and Baldwin counties. But South has always held a special place: They鈥檝e supported the new Jaguar Marching Band Complex, the MacQueen Alumni Center, Hancock Whitney Stadium, literacy education endowments and Jags Impact. They are lifetime members of the National Alumni Association and the Jaguar Athletic Fund. drew them in.
鈥淭o date, South football has played 200 games, and we have attended 190 of them,鈥� Carol said.
They watched the program grow, facilities rise and alumni return to campus. When the Jags played their first game at the newly built Hancock Whitney Stadium in 2020, it felt long overdue.
鈥淕etting football on campus changed everything,鈥� Jim said.
Football serves as the great connector, leading the couple to long-lost friends and
classmates.
While football provides the visible energy of the University, the Statters are equally
committed to the foundational work happening inside the classroom. Literacy is about
reaching people who would otherwise be left behind, those who may never even hear
the Statters鈥� names.
Carol learned about South鈥檚 literacy work through her service on The Literacy Center's advisory council.
鈥淚鈥檝e seen too many kids who can鈥檛 read by fourth grade,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e done. Or by eighth grade, if their reading is still not good enough, they鈥檙e out of school.鈥�
Led by veteran instructor Joan Holland, the Literacy Center serves as a vital training
ground for South education majors. Here, graduate students conduct pivotal research
in early childhood literacy.
Recognizing the long-term impact of this work, Dr. Angela Barlow, dean of the College
of Education and Professional Studies, spoke to the lasting legacy of the Statters鈥�
contribution.
"We are deeply grateful for Jim and Carol Statter鈥檚 generosity, which reflects their strong belief in the power of education," Barlow said. "Their commitment to our Literacy Center creates opportunities for children in our community to build strong literacy skills that will shape their future success.鈥�
This investment in the future is rooted in a 42-year marriage that began after their time as students at South briefly overlapped. Though they didn't meet on campus, the Statters eventually connected through Mobile's social scene, beginning a partnership defined by a deep affinity for their city and their alma mater.
Supporting South became a shared commitment almost instantly.
鈥淚t was one conversation,鈥� Carol said. 鈥淲e just felt good about paying back.鈥�
