News Releases
11/16/05
A University of Kansas alumnus who worked his way through school beginning in junior high has bequeathed $1 million for business and athletics, part of more than $2 million in commitments he made for KU before his death.
Dale W. Gordon, business ’43, died in June, leaving the gift to KU Endowment as a part of his estate plans. Of the gift, $750,000 will establish the Gladys and Dale Gordon Business Scholarship Fund, a scholarship named for Dale Gordon and his first wife that provides support for undergraduate business students. The remaining quarter of his gift will support a scholarship fund for football and basketball student-athletes.
Gordon gave $1 million in 1994 to establish two charitable remainder unitrusts that will support KU after the deaths of his children. He also previously established the Dale W. Gordon Undergraduate Fellowship Program in the School of Business, which pairs faculty mentors with outstanding junior and senior students. Gordon Fellows receive tuition assistance as part of the program.
“The gift from Dale Gordon will be a benefit to the students of the KU School of Business,” said William L. Fuerst, dean of the School of Business. “Mr. Gordon’s forethought and planning in preparing this gift conveys a great deal. The School of Business obviously held great importance for him and we appreciate the generosity of the Gordon family.”
Gordon, a Larned native, worked his way through junior high and high school before attending Fort Hays State University for two years. After transferring to KU, he continued to support himself through employment at a local shoe store. Following graduation, Gordon served in the Navy in World War II. His career included work as a public accountant and as owner of Lawrence Photo Supply in Wichita and Jungkind Photo-graphic of Little Rock, Ark. He and Gladys Beller Gordon had two children, Stephen D. Gordon, business ’71, and Pamela L. Gordon, psychology and human development and family life ’76.
“My father was dedicated to KU,” said Stephen Gordon. “He was indebted to the School of Business for helping him stay in school to finish his degree during World War II. He was also an ardent supporter of KU Athletics and attended every KU home football game from 1957 until 2001.”
KU Endowment is an independent, non-profit organization serving as the official fund-raising and fund-management organization for the University of Kansas. Founded in 1891, KU Endowment is the first foundation of its kind at a U.S. public university and one of the largest.
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