The Meadows Museum houses one of the largest collections of Spanish art outside of Spain. (Christopher Saul / The Daily Campus)

SMU’s Meadows Museum has received a $1 million gift from Linda and Bill Custard that will establish the position of Linda P. and William A. Custard Director of the Meadows Museum and Centennial Chair in the Meadows School of the Arts.

The Meadows Foundation will give an additional $1 million to the endowment of the position.

Mark A. Roglan will serve as the first holder of the new position of Custard Director of the Museum and Centennial Chair in the Meadows School of the Arts.

Roglan has served as director of the Meadows Museum since 2006.

Linda Custard has served the University in numerous roles.

As chair of the Meadows Museum advisory board since 2009, she has worked closely with Roglan in relation to the development and expansion of the Museum programs.

“Mark Roglán has enhanced the Meadows Museum’s international stature with important new programs, such as a partnership with the Prado Museum in Madrid,” Linda Custard said.

 “I have been privileged to assist him in implementing some of his exciting plans for the Museum. Bill and I are pleased that we can endow the Museum directorship and delighted that Mark will be the first person to hold the position.”

In addition to their recent gift, Linda and Bill Custard, along with Linda’s father, the late L. Frank Pitts, have supported SMU in the past.

Their past contributions include support for the President’s Scholarships and the Custard Meadows Scholar Endowment Fund.

In Cox School of Business, they have supported the L. Frank Pitts Oil and Gas Lecture Series, the L. Frank Pitts Oil and Gas Scholars and the L. Frank Pitts Energy Leadership Award.

“We are deeply grateful to Linda and Bill Custard for their generosity in establishing this endowed position for the Meadows Museum and Meadows School,” SMU President R. Gerald Turner said.

The Meadows Museum, a division of Meadows School of the Arts, houses one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of Spanish art outside of Spain, with works dating from the 10th to the 21st century.