TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — A Tuscaloosa businessman made a donation to the Crimson Tradition Fund, a fundraising campaign for University of Alabama athletic facility improvements.

Charles Sealy Jr. of Sealy Real Estate made a $100,000 gift to the Crimson Tradition Fund.

“I wanted to show my loyalty to the sports at Alabama,” Sealy said. “I’m too old to go out there and play, but I can at least give them some money.”

The Crimson Tradition Fund is a $100 million campaign. The improvements will allow for the highest level of athletics and academics on campus with some of the most modern facilities in the Southeastern Conference. Paul Bryant Jr. is the fund’s chairperson. The fund is designed to raise $50 million from private donations and another $50 million from bonds.

Sealy was born in Tuscaloosa and graduated from UA in 1970. He owns Sealy Real Estate and is a Security Bank board member.

Sealy Realty Co. is one of the largest multi-family property owners in the city. It owns more than 5,000 apartment units and manages more than 6,000 units in Tuscaloosa, Northport, Mobile, Trussville, Huntsville, Mississippi and South Carolina. Currently Sealy is building more apartments in Tuscaloosa and Huntsville. Sealy Real Estate also sells farms, land and acreage, residential and commercial properties and leases office space. Sealy is also a partner in the Furniture Connection and Rumsey Environmental.

Sealy said he watched the Crimson Tide win several national championships under Paul “Bear” Bryant. He said he hoped by contributing to UA’s athletics he would help the program rise to that level again.

“Coach Bryant made us stand tall, and we need to be like that again,” Sealy said. “I think we have the potential if everyone pitches in to do their part.”

Money generated from the campaign will be used for the renovation of Paul W. Bryant Hall into an academic support center for student athletes; an expansion of the football complex to include a new weight room, revitalized dressing rooms, squad room and recruiting center; new turf for the Hank Crisp Indoor Practice Area, which has already been completed; modernization of Coleman Coliseum, including a new lobby, coaches’ offices and concourse and seating areas; new tennis and soccer complexes; and expansion of the north end zone of Bryant-Denny Stadium.

For more information on the Crimson Tradition Fund Campaign, contact the Office of Athletic Development at 205/348-9727.