Family of early Micron investors donates $50 million to St. Luke's, Boise State

Noble met Billie Dee Jolley Johnson and married her in 1965. The couple had seven children and, at the time of Allen Noble's death, 22 grandchildren and 54 great-grandchildren.

“Today we are pleased and honored to announce gifts from the estate of Allen T. and Billie Dee Noble of $25 million to Boise State football and $25 million to St. Luke's Health Foundation to give,” the Noble family wrote in a statement. “The family is excited to see the impact these contributions can have on the future of these two programs.”

For St. Luke's, CEO Chris Roth said the gift was a game changer.

“It is a rare moment to receive a selfless gift that will help transform the trajectory of health and wellness for communities across our state,” said Chris Roth, president and CEO of St. Luke’s. “Words of gratitude all seem insufficient to adequately express the impact this gift from the estate of Allen and Billie Dee Noble will have on Idahoans for generations to come. Legacy gifts play a critical role in improving the health of people in the communities we serve, and we are deeply grateful.”

For Boise State, the dollars are earmarked for the school's football programs. The Nobles were long-time major donors to the school, and Allen Noble's name graces the school's hall of fame on the corner of the football stadium complex.

It is the largest single donation in the school's history.

“We are extremely grateful to Allen, Billie Dee and their entire family for this extraordinary gift,” said Boise State Athletics Director Jeramiah Dickey. “This transformative gift from the Ultimate Bronco Family just shows the belief the family has in us and Bronco Nation. Our goal is to embrace this incredible legacy and continue to positively impact the lives of current and future Broncos!”

Dickey told BoiseDev that the money isn't earmarked for anything specific in the football program, but “that will come at some point.”