DeVoe Moore worked a lifetime to be in this position – and he takes great pride in giving some of his life's work back to Florida State University.

Moore, along with his wife, Shirley, and daughters Katherine and Tiffany, committed a $25 million gift to FSU athletics and academics. The donation is earmarked for the school's athletic scholarship endowment as well as the general scholarship fund.

"I think it's probably one of the biggest needs for students," Moore said. "The cost of college and the cost of scholarships is going up every year. I've seen and met kids from homes where the families don't have the means to provide for college. This is needed.

"When I was in school, I was making $35 a week. That paid my tuition, my room and board, my transportation – that paid for everything. Thirty-five dollars won't cover one night out now."

The largest gift in the history of Florida State University, the Moore family's donation will fund quite a few scholarships for years to come. Though officially considered a $25 million commitment in today's dollars, the gift could grow to as much as $50 million in the coming years.

"Full funding for athletic scholarships alone would require more than $100 million, and DeVoe and Shirley's leadership gift is serving as a catalyst toward meeting that challenge," said Andy Miller, president of Seminole Boosters, Inc. "As chairman of the Boosters' drive to fund scholarships, DeVoe has served as an inspiration for all of us."

That inspiration has shown itself repeatedly, said Tom Carlson, the senior vice president of Seminole Boosters, Inc.

"Both DeVoe and Shirley have been so supportive of our efforts to endow scholarships," Carlson said. "But for years they have also shown a keen interest in the activities of the university as a whole. They truly are special people."

Carlson and others brag about how Moore is a "self-made man."

As an undergrad at FSU nearly 40 years ago, Moore made ends meet by shoeing horses and working at an auto parts and fleet supply store. He has spent much of the last 20 years growing his substantial real estate assets.

With the help of Atlanta-based financial planner (and Golden Chief) Bill Pergolini as well as Tallahassee lawyers Charles Gardner and Tim Warfel, Moore structured his gift to make FSU a minority partner in his real estate holdings. Revenues generated off those properties will feed the endowment fund.

Moore, with a smile, takes great pride in saying he never took one business class at FSU. Gardner calls his long-time friend "a classic American success story."

"DeVoe is a man who rose from an obscure beginning through hard work and ingenuity to achieve wealth," Gardner said. "Many people know him only as a man of great wealth. To those who know him better, he is a man who has doggedly stood up for his belief that this country should always remain a land of opportunity based on the principle of free enterprise and one where if you work hard you can get ahead."

FSU president T.K. Wetherell said Moore's unique talents in the business world led to this one-of-a-kind gift.

"If you ask DeVoe and Shirley Moore what has led to their success, they will modestly say it was just 'common sense,'" Wetherell said. "I say it's a very special kind of common sense. They have been hugely successful in business by finding people's basic unmet needs and creating simple, efficient ways to meet those needs -- from shoeing horses to building the first mini-warehouses.

"Florida State University is the beneficiary of that uncommon common sense, thanks to DeVoe and Shirley's generous gifts over the years."

Though he is still as active as he ever was in tending to his business interests, Moore said part of his focus is now on making things better for future FSU student-athletes. He said he hopes this gift will inspire others to follow his path.

"This is a good way for FSU to go out to other people who are in the same position I'm in and show them how it can be done," Moore said. "I hope it shows other people how they can make an impact."

Dave Hart, FSU's director of athletics, said Moore has already made an impact.

"DeVoe is a difference-maker and this gift will enable many young student-athletes to attend college and get a degree in the field of their choice when in many instances that barrier would have otherwise been closed to them," Hart said.