Alum’s $3M Gift to Support Student-Athletes

A 1953 graduate of the University of Maryland and former baseball and basketball player for the Terrapins has committed to a $3 million gift to establish an endowment supporting Maryland student-athlete scholarships. 

James M. Stockman, who built a successful real estate portfolio in his native Frederick County, Md., is also a philanthropist who donated $3 million for the James M. Stockman Cancer Institute at Frederick Hospital Center in 2016 and contributed to many other charities before creating the James M. Stockman Endowment at UMD. The gift helps bring Fearless Ideas: The Campaign for Maryland nearer to its $1.5 billion fundraising goal by the end of this year. 

"I wanted to donate to the Maryland Athletics department to establish opportunities to future student-athletes much like the ones that were afforded to me back in the early '50s," said Stockman. "My hope is that these students who were in a similar position that I was in will have an easier time. Because of my experience, I was in a position to succeed out of college, and now I want to pay it forward for student-athletes for years to come."

Stockman was a member of the Maryland men's basketball team from 1950-51, playing for legendary coach Bud Millikan. He also played one season of baseball at Maryland. Stockman is a member of the YMCA of Frederick County's Alvin G. Quinn Sports Hall of Fame. He was a multi-talented athlete, playing four varsity sports at Frederick High School, and a charter member in the National Honor Society.

After graduating from Maryland, Stockman returned to Frederick, playing football, basketball and baseball with area semi-pro teams. He also took an interest in youth baseball, coaching the Babe Ruth All-Stars to three state and two runner-up championship trophies in the late 1950s. Stockman took over the American Legion team in the 1960s, winning three state championships and two runner-up region titles. He was known as a no-nonsense coach, accepting nothing less than perfection.

"We are incredibly fortunate to have Terps such as Jim Stockman supporting Maryland Athletics," said Director of Athletics Damon Evans. "Jim is a very philanthropic man, and his commitment to the student-athlete experience is demonstrated by this generous gift. His fond memories of his time at Maryland have lasted a lifetime, and he's excited to create more opportunities for future Terps. We are very grateful for Jim."