After 15 years of planning, Eckerd College broke ground on the John R. Saunders Dining Center in 2024. The building was intended to renew a sense of community at the school, fitting neatly in the legacy of John R. Saunders ’71, an alumnus who has sponsored many of Eckerd’s programs and facilities.
“I think I got a better education there than I did at University of Pennsylvania, which, of course, is Ivy League,” said Saunders about his time as a student at Eckerd.
Saunders’ life has been filled with many successes, including his business in the coin collection industry with locations both in the United States and the United Kingdom. He is also a commercial real estate owner in Southern California…