THE HISTORY OF THE CHARLES L. MIX
MEMORIAL FUND
1957 .. 1998
GEORGIA SOUTHWESTERN
STATE UNIVERSITY
HISTORY OF THE CHARLES L. MIX MEMORIAL FUND
Cl sudden illness and a chance stop in the winter of 1935 eventually lead to the creation of a marvelous gift that has continued to benefit Americus and Georgia Southwestern State University through the years .
MRS. MIX AND AMERICUS
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r. Charles L. Mix and his wife Jeanette Caldwell Mix were a wealthy couple with no children. During the fall and winter of many years they would drive from their home state of Illinois to the west coast region of Florida through south Georgia on Highway 19.
On one such trip in November 1935 Dr. Mix fell ill and the couple decided to spend the night in Americus at the Windsor Hotel. Sadly, Dr. Mix's condition worsened and he died of pneumonia on November 21, 1935.
Surprisingly, Mrs. Mix decided not to return to her home in Illinois after her husband's death. She continued to reside in Americus until her death in 1953. She lived at the Windsor Hotel for most of those years until decreasing mobility forced other arrangements. Dr. Russell Thomas, her personal physician, arranged for her to live at the Prather Clinic, a hospital located on Jackson Street in downtown Americus.
Russell Thomas, Jr., Dr. Thomas' son, recalls visiting Mrs. Mix while his father made daily rounds at the clinic. Mr. Thomas remembers her having many different financial publications stacked about her room. She also had several telephones in her room, including a direct line to her broker. A private bathroom with a giant clawfoot tub connected to her room. She did not use this tub for bathing, however; she used it to store her precious collection of back issues of the Wall Street Journal.
Nearly everyone who knew Mrs. Mix personally remembers her long black 1938 Buick limousine. Dr. Henry King Stanford, a former president of Georgia Southwestern College, would hire students to drive Mrs . Mix. One student driver was Delman Minchew, a retired
lawyer who now resides with his wife in Waycross, Georgia.
Mr. Minchew drove for Mrs. Mix from 1949 to 1950 and remembers her as a very pleasant, proper, and learned woman. He would often take Mrs. Mix on day trips, accompanied by Mrs. Margaret Thomas, the late Dr. Thomas' wife. Two of Mrs. Mix's favorite places to visit were Andersonville and Providence Canyon. If she had no particular place to go, Mrs. Mix would have Mr. Minchew drive her twenty or thirty miles in any direction just to view the landscape. Whatever her destination, Mrs. Mix would always be "dressed to the nines" with a hat and gloves, although her clothing was somewhat dated.
On one of their first trips, Mr. Minchew recalled that he and Mrs. Mix had to drive over some railroad tracks. Perhaps thinking he drove over them too fast, Mrs. Mix began to scold Delman. In a brave act, Mr. Minchew pulled the car to the side of the road and told Mrs. Mix if she ever spoke to him in that manner again, he would stop the car and walk back home, leaving her to fend for herself. She never commented on his driving again. Through these experiences, Mrs. Mix and Mr. Minchew became good friends. In a way, she considered him her "adopted son."
In 1950, Delman was accepted into law school at Emory University. Mrs. Mix tried to persuade him to accompany her to Illinois for the summer to assist her in opening her home, perhaps even staying to work for her. Delman declined her invitation, and she never returned to Illinois.
DEATH BRINGS DISPUTE
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uring the next few years, Mrs. Mix's health continued to decline. After a long struggle with bronchitis, she died on October 2, 1953. She had prepared a will in 1939 in which she bequeathed her furniture, books, and other personal items to close family members and friends.
She also declared in her will that she wished to leave the remainder of her estate to the Northwestern University Medical School of Evanston, Illinois to establish a memorial fund to her late husband. This fund would provide the resources for a research program that would study the causes and cures for mental diseases.
On September 24, 1953, eight days before her death, Mrs. Mix signed a codicil to her will that changed the portion of her bequest originally intended to go to Northwestern. The codicil provided for the remainder of her assets to go to three men: Donald B. Caldwell, a nephew of Mrs. Mix; Mr. Charles F. Crisp, the executor of her will; and Dr. Russell Thomas, her personal physician. The codicil stated, however, that the money was still to be used for establishing a memorial fund in memory of Dr. Mix.
Upon discovering the codicil, Northwestern University Medical School brought legal action against Mr. Crisp. The suit alleged that:
1. The codicil was not signed, published, or declared as Mrs. Mix's last will and testament;
2. If the "scrawl" appearing on the codicil was, in fact, Mrs. Mix's signature, then she was not of sound mind when she signed it; and
3. Dr. Russell Thomas persuaded Mrs. Mix to sign the codicil by undue influence, changing the legatee from an established medical school to a general practitioner and two laymen
. At the end of the legal proceedings, the will and the codicil were upheld in court as legitimate. Thus, two-thirds of the estate remained with Mr. Crisp and Dr. Thomas, with one-third going to the nephew, Mr. Caldwell.
CREATION OF THE CHARLES L. MIX MEMORIAL FUND
he first meeting of the incorporators of the Charles L. Mix Memorial Fund was held on March 11, 1957 in Mr. Charles Crisp's office in the Bank of Commerce in Americus. Their agenda was to adopt the fund's bylaws. Those present included Mr. Charles F. Crisp, Dr. Russell Thomas, and Mr. Hiram K. Undercofler.
Mr. Crisp and Dr. Thomas were named as permanent trustees and were secured the right to designate their own successors. Four general trustees were named by virtue of their offices and served as trustees during their respective terms of office. These general trustees included : ( 1) Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of Roads and Revenues of Sumter County, ( 2) Mayor of Americus, (3) Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Americus and Sumter County Hospital,
and (4) President of Georgia Southwestern College. The Board selected three other general trustees, each serving two-year terms or until a successor was named.
As Mrs. Mix had intended, the Board of Trustees established a program in the community of Americus to fund research for the causes and cures of mental disease. The financial resources for this program were, and still are, primarily gained through stock dividends. Originally, the Mix Fund was worth approximately six hundred thousand dollars. Today the fund is worth an estimated eight million dollars.
RESEARCH PROGRAMS BEGIN
or the first few years, the Board of Trustees of the Mix Fund @, retained its own team to conduct research. Dr. J. Chambers became the first resident director of the Charles L. Mix Memorial Fund research program in April 1958. At a meeting held the previous October, the Board decided that a period of one year would be sufficient for Dr. Chambers to evaluate the potential scope of the research program. The Board appropriated $10,000 for Dr. Chambers' salary, $5,000 for an assistant psychologist, and $2,100 for a clerk/typist. Dr. Chambers made periodoic reports to the Board, who were meeting on a called basis in addition to their annual meetings.
Georgia Southwestern provided the physical facilities for Dr. Chambers and his staff to perform their research. The relationship between the Mix Fund and Georgia Southwestern has been a permanent part of the Fund's history.
Dr. Chambers was followed by Dr. Lewis Lieberman, previously Dr. Chambers' assistant, as research director in March of 1964. Dr. Lieberman continued his position until 1972.
RELATIONSHIP WITH GSW EXPANDS
fter initial review and despite some progress being made, the Board of Trustees was not fully satisfied with the direction the research was taking. Subsequently, the Board decided to collaborate
with Georgia Southwestern in the establishment, management, and operation of the research program for the causes and cures of mental disease. The trustees understood that a broad and unlimited scope was necessary for such a program. They decided to fund the research program through the Psychology Department of Georgia Southwestern and to allow the college to assume the details management. This relationship between Georgia Southwestern College, now Georgia Southwestern State University, and the Mix Fund continues today. Because of this relationship, the Mix Fund has been a valuable resource for Georgia Southwestern. A chart showing the generous contributions made to Georgia Southwestern's research program by the Mix fund from 1977 to 1996 follows:
GSW RESEARCH SUPPORT FROM Mrx FUND
$ 68,000 $ 68,000 $ 68,000 $ 81,000 $ 84,000
$ 86,000
$ 83,000 $ 93,000 $105,000 $120,000 $156,000 $186,000 $193,000 $220,000 $217,000 $265,000 $282,987 $295,055 $249,190 $317,566
The research programs that exist today have evolved over a number of years through a trial-and-error basis The current programs will continue to evolve as the research into this very complex and serious problem of mental illness advances and society gains greater understanding. Today's Board of Trustees knows that the idea and implementation of the research program was a bold initiative, but they believe the concept is working and will continue to work .
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND FUTURE DIRECTION
he current director of the Mix Fund is Dr. William B. Dragoin, \!JJ who replaced Dr. Lewis Lieberman in 1972. It was suggested to Dr. Dragoin that he hire several researchers to conduct research programs of their own. A few of the researchers who have conducted studies over the past years include: Dr. Walter Jacobs, Dr. Anne Liebert, Dr. Lamon Moates, Dr. Richard Bums, Dr. Jack Nottingham, and Dr. Bart Ray. Presently, Dr. David Smith and Dr. Steve Depoala are conducting research activities. In addition to these researchers, six to twelve students are hired to work as assistants. These students are usually juniors or seniors majoring in Psychology or Sociology. There are several notable projects that have been completed by Georgia Southwestern in conjunction with the Mix Fund. One project, conducted by Dr. Walt Jacobs, involved mentally disabled adult males. The project led to the start of sheltered work programs in southwest Georgia . These work programs helped unemployed mentally disabled adult males find employment in rural areas.
Another accomplishment was a 1clinic on the campus of Georgia Southwestern run by Dr. Lamon Moates. Clinic personnel interviewed patients who felt they needed psychological assistance and referred them to the appropriate physicians if needed.
Adjunct to the research program was the development of the Rosalynn Carter Institute (RCI). The RCI honors the former First Lady not only because she is an alumna of Georgia Southwestern, but also because of her humanitarian efforts and support of mental health. In 1987, Dr. William Capitan, immediate past president of Georgia Southwestern, and Dr. William B. Dragoin approached Mrs . Carter about the idea of the RCI and requested permission to use her name . The Board of Trustees of the Mix Fund agreed that certain funds allo-
cated to Georgia Southwestern could be used as seed money for the RCI. The Mix Fund is still a major source of funding for the Rosalynn Carter Institute. The RCI concerns itself mainly with caregiving in situations of chronic physical or mental illness, caring for the elderly, and caring for persons who suffer from developmental disabilities situations which can cause a great deal of mental stress on the caregiver. The RCI devotes its time to the support of these individuals. Dr. Jack Nottingham is the director of the Rosalynn Carter Institute. The Board of Directors of the Mix Fund sees its lasting significance to be with the Rosalynn Carter Institute, and they look forward to a strong and promising future together.
A WONDERFUL GIFT, A LASTING LEGACY
Jtt rs. Jeanette Caldwell Mix was not a native of Americus, but her generosity through a series of chance events, created a legacy that will continue its positive influence far into the future. A portrait of this influential woman hangs in the conference room of the Psychology Department on the campus of Georgia Southwestern State University.
The Mix Fund, now with assets of several million dollars, has benefitted thousands of individuals through its programs and served as the funding basis for creating the Rosalynn Carter Institute. Georgia Southwestern State University, by providing space and research management, has benefitted tremendously from this relationship with the Mix Fund through expanded research opportunities for its faculty and students.
* Research and original draft provided by Tracy E. Outlaw
Mrx FOUNDATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES 1998
CHAIR
CHARLES R. CRISP VICE-CHAIR
RUSSELL THOMAS, JR.
SECRETARY/fREASURER
WILLIAM E. SMITH
J.N. COOK
WADE HALSTEAD
DR. MICHAEL L. HANES
DR. HENRY KING STANFORD
