(WEAU) - George Simpson Jr. and George Simpson Sr. are familiar names to the faculty and staff of University of Wisconsin Eau Claire. Simpson Sr. was one of the first faculty members, and his son was a star athlete. Their names will live on through a big donation.

"However we spend it, it would be to enhance the education of our students, first and foremost geography and anthropology students,” said Department Chair of Geography and Anthropology, Doug Faulkner.

The university says the Simpson family gave six million dollars total. Two million to the UW foundation, two to the Department of Geography and Anthropology and another two to the athletic department. Just the interest it can generate is exciting to university leaders.

"The gift is a little over two million dollars and that will be invested by the UW foundation and on an annual basis there will be so much income off that investment. Right now it's estimated at about seventy thousand dollars a year," said Faulkner.

“Part of our strategic plan is we would like to invest that into some type of fund-raising position to invest in the investment. I think when you do that properly you should get a return minimum tenfold on that,” said Director of Athletics, Scott Kilgallon.

George Simpson was an accomplished athlete and by donating his money to the athletic department his legacy will continue to live on.

“I think everybody understands this is a good thing for our students and something we certainly think is going to enhance their experience,” said Kilgallon.

The other donation is going to the YMCA facility.