A University alumnus who raised money for the $352 million Campaign for Penn State has been named chairman of the University's Academic and Athletic Convocation and Events Center fund-raising project.

University President Joab Thomas named Edward R. Hintz, president of the Hintz, Holman and Hecksher management firm in New York, to head fund-raising efforts for the convocation center.

The center will have about 16,000 seats, and the University plans to host more than 200 events there per year. Design and construction of the center, which will be located near Beaver Stadium, will take several years.

Hintz was chosen because of his leadership skills and previous success in University fund-raising projects, said Michael Bezilla, manager of development, communications and special projects in the Department of University Relations.

"He's a man of proof and experience," Bezilla said. "He's very much dedicated to Penn State."

Bezilla said Hintz's major responsibilities will be to set up the campaign and to maintain personal contact with potential donors.

Hintz said raising money for the convocation center will be more challenging than the broader Campaign for Penn State because the facility is perceived as primarily an athletic facility.

But the center will be used for graduations, concerts and many other events, Hintz said. He said the convocation center campaign will emphasize the facility's benefits for everyone --students, alumni and Centre County.

Since the center will also have a major economic impact on the Centre Region, the campaign will look for support from the surrounding communtiy in addition to alumni, he said.

"(The convocation center) is very much needed for Penn State and Pennsylvania," Hintz said. "It needs to be done."

Hintz said he is assembling a campaign committee that will meet on April 12 when the campaigns goal will be announced.

Gov. Robert P. Casey's recent release of $16.8 million in state funds for the center has allowed the University to proceed with the campaign, Hintz said. The center's completion will be a combined effort of University alumni and the state, he said.

Hintz graduated from the University in 1959 with a bachelor's degreee in business administration. He was a member of the Lion's Paw honor society, Phi Delta Theta fraternity, and was president of the Interfraternity Council. Hintz also said he was head manager of the Nittany Lion football team "back when Paterno was a backfield coach."