LARAMIE - While the University of Wyoming raked in millions during its five-year capital campaign drive, UW's nonprofit fundraising partner was doling out big bucks to those in charge of the effort.

Former UW President Philip Dubois received $525,000 in "incentive" pay between 2001 and 2005, according to school records. The payments were in addition to his $230,000 annual salary and other benefits.

Vice President for University Advancement Ben Blalock took home $250,000 on top of his nearly $199,000 salary.

And head men's basketball coach Steve McClain received $25,000 for speaking engagements to promote the fund drive.

The University of Wyoming Foundation paid for all three incentive packages.

University records also show that the UW Foundation gave Blalock a $50,000 raise in fiscal year 2005, but failed to get the sum pre-approved by the UW Board of Trustees, a breach of university rules.

The trustees retroactively approved the funding at their January meeting, where they also gave the final OK to another $112,500 worth of incentive pay and salary for Blalock in fiscal year 2006. However, two trustees were not happy with the lack of protocol and said the compensation level was too high.

"When you look at what's being paid to the other vice presidents, it's really unfair," said Trustee James Trosper of Fort Washakie, who voted against the payments. Trustee Dr. Howard Willson of Thermopolis cast the other negative vote.

Billed as an unprecedented success in UW fundraising, the "Campaign for Distinction" fund drive raised $204 million. The money is providing a mammoth financial boost for university academics, athletics and construction projects.

With help from private donors and $58 million in state matching funds, the drive, which ended June 30, 2005, far exceeded its $125 million goal.

The effort drew support from famed UW alumni Vice President Dick Cheney, former U.S. Sen. Alan Simpson and many others. But the chief ramrods for the project were Dubois and Blalock.

The incentive agreements were an effort to keep the men in Laramie for the duration of the campaign, said Rick Miller, government community and legal affairs vice president at UW.

The incentive contracts included a vesting clause that caused the administrators to lose larger percentages of the money if they left before the drive ended.

Had he stayed at his post as UW president, Dubois was entitled to another $150,000 each fiscal year through 2008 from the UW Foundation, Miller said.

It was a more recent deal in which the UW Foundation promised Blalock the additional salary increase and bonuses for fiscal years 2005 and 2006. That money is not tied to the capital fund drive. Rather, it is intended as part of Blalock's regular compensation, Miller said.

For reasons that are not clear, the trustees did not sign off on that deal until their January meeting. Trosper declined to explain how the trustees learned about the payments.

University rules require the trustees to approve all compensation to university officers. Blalock said he was unsure why the retroactive pay approval was required.

In separate interviews last week, Trosper and Willson said they were uncomfortable with the pay and the process by which it was approved.

Trosper applauded Blalock for his work on the fundraising drive, but said he could not support the compensation package. He said it's not fair for an employee at a public institution in Wyoming to make that kind of money.

"When you look at the median income for the state of Wyoming is only $30,000, and somebody is being paid that amount?" Trosper said. "The University of Wyoming is a public institution, and I don't think the people of Wyoming would approve that either."

In a Friday telephone interview, Blalock said donors across the state support the capital campaign, and he doesn't think the incentive payments will affect that support.

"I see no issues at all," Blalock said.

Susie McMurry, a major UW donor from Casper who participated in the capital campaign, said she is comfortable with the compensation packages.

"They did a great job. They did what they were charged to do," McMurry said. "If that took incentives, then I guess that was a success."

Star-Tribune capital bureau reporter Jared Miller can be reached at (307) 632-1244 or jared.miller@casperstartribune.net.