Lewis Katz's mother always wanted him to be a doctor, but he couldn't stand the sight of blood and didn't much like dissection.

So he went to law school instead, and then made a fortune in parking, banking, billboards, and real estate.

Wednesday, his alma mater announced that Temple University's medical school will be named after the longtime member of the university's board of trustees and the largest donor in the school's history.

"I got the second-best thing for her," said Katz, 72. "She's got to be smiling today."

Katz, a co-owner of The Inquirer, pledged $25 million to Temple in November - the biggest single gift in the university's history. That represents 8 percent of the university's endowment, which as of last June totaled $324 million.

At the time of Katz's pledge, no purpose for the money was specified. University officials said Wednesday that the funds would be used to enhance research and faculty support at the School of Medicine, soon to be called the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple.

The 11-story education and research building on the university's medical school campus in North Philadelphia opened in 2009 and cost $160 million.

While university officials declined to say how much money Katz has given his alma mater over the years, they acknowledged him to be is the largest benefactor in Temple's history.

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Temple to name medical school after Katz