Houchens Industries is an outstanding corporate citizen in this community and they continue to show how much they truly care about it.

Not long ago they contributed a substantial amount of money to the new Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce building, which is now named in their honor, and on Thursday, they donated $5 million to the renovation of Western Kentucky University's football stadium.

What a generous contribution.

It is significant because this contribution is the fourth largest cash gift in Western's history.

The money will be used for the expansion and renovation of L.T. Smith Stadium, which will now bear Houchens name as well as the name of the former coach.

The contribution comes at a very important time in Western's rich history because they are moving into Division 1-A football and a requirement of that is that the school must have more seats than the current stadium has. Accordingly, 5,000 new seats are being added on the west side of the football field. The new, improved stadium will certainly be something that will add to a high school athlete's desire to play football at Western, not to mention putting Western more in the national spotlight.

The project is costing a total of $37.5 million and as Western Athletic Director Wood Selig said Wednesday, the contribution will help the university complete the renovations and expansions in a first-class manner.

The contribution will also help raise Western's profile, as well.

This isn't Houchens first time to step in and donate to Western. They helped Western remodel E.A. Diddle Arena five years ago. They also annually contribute to Western's basketball program.

Houchens, which is the country's largest employee-owned company, should be commended for donating not only for the football stadium, but for all that it has done for Western and other projects in Bowling Green-Warren County.