February 3, 2005

Well-known for his high energy approach to everything from selling furniture to embracing life,
Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale will bring his special brand of enthusiasm and encouragement to the University of Houston next week.

McIngvale, co-owner of Houston-based Gallery Furniture, will deliver a motivational speech to the UH community at 3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 10, in the University Center’s Houston Room. The divisions of Administration and Finance, Student Affairs and Academic Affairs are sponsoring the event. A reception will follow the event.

A native of Starkville, Miss., McIngvale and his wife, Linda, started Gallery Furniture in 1981 with $5,000. Since then, the furniture store has grown into a successful business, and McIngvale has become a community leader. He and his wife are helping to raise funds for the Bush-Clinton Fund, a nationwide charitable effort for tsunami survivors.

McIngvale has given more than 2,000 speeches to children about the importance of staying in school, having self-esteem and saying no to drugs. He has given more than $1 million to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Scholarship Fund. McIngvale is the recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s Patriots Award, which recognizes outstanding community service.

For more information, call 713-743-5787.

Francine Parker
Fparker@central.uh.edu