Rooted in community and shaped by a lifelong sense of home, Rene’ Griffin's journey reflects the purpose of the event center that now bears his name.

Rene' Griffin's life is a testament to the power of belonging. From his earliest years in Commerce, Texas, he was embraced by a community that supported him and claimed him as its own. To Rene', East Texas A&M was never simply a place to attend classes. It was a place where relationships grew, and shared experiences shaped a lifelong sense of home.

In that spirit, the university's new event center will bear his name—the Rene' Griffin Event Center—in honor of a lifetime devoted to bringing people together. At their core, Rene's story and the story of the René Griffin Event Center are about creating places where people belong.

A Childhood Rooted in Togetherness

Rene' was just seven years old when his family moved to Monroe Street in Commerce, just across the street from the university. The year was 1960, and Commerce was a tiny, close-knit town where neighbors sipped iced tea on their front porches while their children played in the friendly neighborhood streets.

From Boy Scouts adventures to Little League games, friendship was central to Rene's childhood. Many of those early companions became friends for life, including Eddie Fuller, Emerson Adams, and Ray Hawkins, son of Coach Ernest Ray Hawkins. The three boys grew from Little League All-Star teammates into college classmates—and ultimately, lifelong friends.

Rene's father was a biology professor at the university, and like many professors' children, Rene' metaphorically held the keys to the university. The campus was an extension of his backyard. With 35 cents in his pocket, eight-year-old Rene' would ride his bike to the Lion's Lair cafeteria for lunch. During the lazy days of summer, he'd explore the cool, quiet student center to shoot a game of pool, check out books from the library, or wander the halls of the Ferguson Building. The campus was his playground, full of opportunities for the imagination.

An Early Eye for Opportunity

When he was around nine, Rene's business instincts began to surface. While wheeling through campus one day, he stopped to watch a construction crew building the sorority houses. Sunlight glistened off several glass Coca-Cola bottles littered across the site, and Rene' had an idea. Discreetly breaking one of the bottles behind some stairs, he flagged down the foreman and pointed out the “dangerous” glass, asking permission to pick it up.

“I told him, ‘You're going to be in trouble if one of your workmen steps on that,'” Rene' said.

The plan worked like a charm, and the foreman gave Rene' permission to collect the bottles once a week. After that, he would gather them in a big box, balance them precariously on the front of his bike, and haul them to Piggly Wiggly in downtown Commerce. The grocery store paid him two cents apiece, and his pockets soon jangled with the profits from his first business venture.

Early Access to a World of Learning

Looking back, Rene' credits the university's resources and opportunities with providing a solid boost to his grade-school education. In high school, he'd frequent the university library where a librarian would help him find the books he needed to write research papers. As a drummer in the high school band, he took private lessons from Charles McAdams, a graduate student at ET who later became a renowned university music director. That opportunity helped Rene' develop his musical talent quickly—and keep it for life. To this day, a drum set takes center stage in his living room!

Coming Home to a Place That Knows You

After high school, Rene' went to summer school at East Texas A&M (known then as East Texas State) before transferring up to Missouri Southern in Joplin, where his father had accepted a one-year visiting professorship. With few distractions, Rene' focused on his studies and earned a 4.0 GPA. But far from his friends, the days felt lonely, and Rene' missed home. So, at the beginning of his sophomore year, he packed his bags, returned to Commerce, and joyfully reenrolled at ET.

Brotherhood and Belonging

Life returned to full color during those happy days. Rene' joined the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity, which opened a new world of brotherhood. Soon, he was elected president, and fraternity life filled his calendar with social and leadership events that bonded him with his fraternity brothers.

“When you're in a fraternity or sorority, you live together, study together, play intramurals together, double date together, eat lunch and dinner together. I mean everything. And you become brothers in a very true sense when you’re that tightly bound for four years,” Rene' said.

Intramural sports were a highlight. At the time, 11 fraternities competed in a campus-wide Greek system, and students would flock to the games to cheer on their favorite teams. They played everything from volleyball to badminton, and the matchups were fierce and fun.

Serving the Community That Served Him

In addition to Greek life, Rene' was a student senator, belonged to four honor societies, taught a biology lab, was elected vice president of the Inter-Fraternity Council, and triple majored in computer science, biology, and math. Known for his can-do attitude and easy rapport with classmates, he was named “class favorite,” and his academic achievements earned him a spot in “Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities.”

As if life weren't busy enough, Rene' also needed steady work. A chance conversation with University Police Chief Sam McCord opened an unexpected opportunity, and at just 19, Rene' joined the campus police department. When he graduated from the police academy, he became a certified peace officer with the authority to carry a weapon and make arrests.

The job brought responsibility and perspective. During one of his shifts, 20-year-old Rene' faced a life-and-death situation that reshaped his understanding of what truly matters. But there were lighter moments, too. Providing security at concerts meant getting paid to enjoy live music. When Willie Nelson performed in the university's Fieldhouse—twice— Rene' was on duty and hung out backstage with the Red-Headed Stranger himself.

A Campus That Shows Up for Its Own

College life was demanding, but Rene' never faced it alone. Buoyed by a close-knit campus community that looked out for its own, he thrived despite a packed schedule and little sleep. That support showed up in small but meaningful ways.

When Rene' mentioned to his history professor, Dr. Sawyer, that the textbook was too expensive, the response was immediate.

“He just reached up on the shelf, handed me a textbook, and said, ‘Rene', bring it back when the semester is over.'”

Later, when he missed the graduation application deadline, family friend Jean Latson in the registrar's office stepped in.

“She walked me through what I needed to do, and she made sure I graduated,” Rene' said with a smile. “I wouldn't have gotten that support at a big university somewhere!”

Partnership Built on Friendship

Those golden years of college passed swiftly, and graduation day dawned in December 1975. The celebration was short and sweet— Rene' earned his bachelor's degree before Christmas break, and by January, he was back on campus to begin his master's program.

But a year later, burnout set in, and Rene' needed a break from school. Around the same time, his lifelong friend and fraternity brother, Brent Dyer, was launching Texas Book Company. The business's platform appealed to Rene'. It provided affordable textbook options for university students, meeting a need he empathized with.

Rene' remembers asking Brent, “Hey, don't you need a partner?” And Brent's reply was an enthusiastic, “Yeah, let's do this!”

From there, a 40-year partnership was born. With a $25,000 loan to get them started, the friends began building the business in Greenville, Texas. Part of Rene's role was people-oriented—hiring, training, making connections, and building a network of customer relationships across the nation. With his education in computer science, Rene' was also a tech guy, creating a computer network at Texas Book Company at a time when IBM said computer networks weren't possible.

Over time, Texas Book Company grew into a nationwide enterprise serving more than 2,000 bookstores across all 50 states.

Staying Connected

When he retired in 2016, Rene' found time for new adventures. Now, he travels the world. His most recent trip was a bucket-list expedition to Easter Island and Antarctica with two friends from his university days.

While he lives in the Dallas area, not too far from his son, Caylon, daughter-in-law, Roane, and grandson, Gram, he returns to Commerce weekly to play golf and have lunch with fraternity brothers.

Giving Back—and Bringing People Together

For over 50 years, Rene' has exemplified what it means to be an engaged alumnus. He has attended every ET Lions homecoming football game since 1960—a record-breaking 65 consecutive years.

“At this point, I’m not going to break my string. I’ll see if I can make it till 90 or so homecoming games!” he laughed.

In 2025, the university honored him with the well-deserved Gold Blazer Award for his exemplary service and dedication to East Texas A&M. From leading the Delta Tau Delta Education Foundation and serving on the Alumni Association Board to spearheading countless fundraising events, Rene' has built lasting connections between students and alumni.

His support of ET includes an endowed scholarship for Delta Tau Delta, continued support of the Pride Marching Band, and sustained investment in Lion Athletics on the playing field and in the classroom.

His most recent gift of $8 million is the largest in university history. The gift is a transformational investment that enhances Lion Athletics, expands student-focused programs, and creates a dedicated endowment to ensure the long-term operations and care of the Rene' Griffin Event Center.

“I'd encourage our alumni to consider what you got out of your education at ET,” Rene' said. “Why not give students the same opportunity you had? You can do that through money or scholarships, but also through service and mentorship.”

A Legacy of Connection

Community has been the throughline of Rene's life—from childhood days spent roaming campus, to brotherhood forged in college, to decades of friendships sustained long after graduation. It's what draws him back to Commerce and motivates his desire to create opportunities for others.

In the same way, the Rene' Griffin Event Center is more than a building; it's a gathering place designed for shared experiences where the community can celebrate, compete, learn, and create memories together.

“There's a big push in society right now to stop spending money on material things and start investing in experiences. And the Event Center fits into that mindset,” Rene' said. “This facility will provide a place to enjoy memorable experiences with friends and family. And what do you have if you don’t have that?”

For generations to come, the Rene' Griffin Event Center will offer what Rene' has valued all along: a place to belong.

Read the official press release announcing the Rene’ Griffin Event Center.