Cal Poly, SAN LUIS OBISPO - Cal Poly has received a $1.5 million gift from a famous alumnus to help fund the renovation of the university's H.P. Davidson Music Center and the Cal Poly Theatre. Alex Spanos is the owner of the San Diego Chargers and of A.G. Spanos Cos., described by a Cal Poly press release as one of the nation's leading builders of apartment communities. He was an aeronautical engineering student in the early 1940s and was the drum major for the marching band led by Davidson.

"When I read about the other alumni's reminiscences about the bands and the singing groups, a flood of memories came back," Spanos said. "Those were great times. Everyone who knew Harold Davidson loved him."

The gift will go toward the $15 million renovation project, which will enlarge the theater and the building that houses the departments of music, theater and dance. Nearly $3 million has been raised thus far, so the start of construction is expected to be years away.