Walter J. and Betty Zable Bequeathed More Than $6 Million to Support USD Athletics

University of San Diego President Mary E. Lyons announced today that Walter J. Zable, who passed away in the summer of 2012 at the age of 97, and his wife, Betty Zable, who passed away in 2007, designated more than $6 million from their estate to the University of San Diego in support of Torero Athletics and to fund scholarships.

Walter J. Zable, a member of the University of San Diego’s Board of Trustee from 1977 to 1996, and Betty, leave behind a legacy of philanthropic support to USD and Torero Athletics.

“We are forever grateful to the Zables for their generous support of USD’s athletics program,” Lyons said. “ Their generous contributions during the last four decades have allowed USD to create several endowed scholarships that will provide educational opportunities for countless outstanding USD students.”

In 2006, the University honored Walter by naming the field at Torero Stadium the “Walter J. Zable Field at Torero Stadium.”

“Walter was a true inspiration to all who knew him. Because of his own experience as an outstanding collegiate athlete, Walter understood the opportunities collegiate sports can provide many young men and women who otherwise might not attend college,” said Ky Snyder, executive director of Torero Athletics.

A leading innovator, Walter founded Cubic Corporation a small electronics company in 1951. In just over a decade, Walter along with his wife, Betty, the company’s first secretary, and a handful of tireless and committed employees, grew the company by nearly 600%. By 1968, Cubic had introduced more than 60 products and services and recorded sales of over $28 million. Today, Cubic Corporation employs more than 8,000 people around the globe and recorded sales in 2012 of nearly $1.4 billion.

About the University of San Diego

The University of San Diego (USD) is a Catholic institution of higher learning committed to teaching, the liberal arts, the formation of values and the creation of ethical leaders. Chartered in 1949, the school enrolls approximately 8,300 undergraduate and graduate full-time equivalent students. USD has a long history of public service and was recently recognized as a Changemaker Campus by Ashoka, the global association of the world’s leading social entrepreneurs. The university’s eight academic divisions include the College of Arts and Sciences, the schools of Business Administration, Engineering, Law, Leadership and Education Sciences, Nursing and Health Sciences, Peace, and the Division of Professional and Continuing Education.

About the University of San Diego

Strengthened by the Catholic intellectual tradition, we confront humanity’s challenges by fostering peace, working for justice and leading with love. With more than 8,000 students from 75 countries and 44 states, USD is among the Top 20 Best Private Schools for Making an Impact according to The Princeton Review. USD’s eight academic divisions include the College of Arts and Sciences, the Knauss School of Business, the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering, the School of Law, the School of Leadership and Education Sciences, the Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science, the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, and the Division of Professional and Continuing Education. In 2021, USD was named a “Laudato Si’ University” by the Vatican with a seven-year commitment to address humanity’s urgent challenges by working together to take care of our common home.