Tom Dondlinger's family was in on the ground floor – no exaggeration – as Shockers basketball grew into a Wichita passion.
 
"Our family construction business built Henry Levitt Arena, the Roundhouse, in 1955-56," he said. "I have been attending the games since I can remember."
 
Wichita State selected, through a random ticket block selection, Tom and Colleen Dondlinger to represent the eight million fans who attended games at the on-campus arena, now known as Charles Koch Arena, since it opened in December 1955.
 
Tom Dondlinger, 67, remembers running around the upper rows with other children in the days when those seats weren't always filled. He remembers a game against Cincinnati in the early 1960s – "I don't think I've ever seen the Roundhouse louder in my entire life." And he is thrilled with Wichita State's membership in the American Athletic Conference and the excitement it creates.
 
"The games have meant a lot to our family," he said. "We've been there in the good years and the bad years. And I'm especially enjoying it this year."
 
Dondlinger Construction also built the renovation of the arena and expansion of offices, training and locker facilities. That $25 million project opened in 2003 and featured a renaming of the arena.
 
"We're very fortunate as a company to be able to come back and do the expansion," he said. "It was just a lot of fun. It was great to be able to continue what we started in 1955."
 
Wichita State is 65-1 at Charles Koch Arena the past five seasons with 63 of those games played in front of sell-out crowds.