Foundation News: Associate Members Leaves a Legacy

100 LEGACIES CAMPAIGN

associate Member leaves a legacy

by BOB OFF (CO ’64), Foundation executive director emeritus

I’ve always admired the wisdom of the Fraternity’s practice and policy of allowing the chapters to initiate

John Riley (KS ’73) worthy men as associate members that didn’t become members as undergraduates for whatever reason.

Many, if not most, have become exemplary members, generously giving of their “time, pleasures and comforts” as chapter advisors, serving on association boards and on the International Executive Board.

One such man was John Riley (KS ’73). John passed away suddenly on Sept. 16, 2013, at the age of 66. He was professor of agricultural economics at the University of Tennessee (UT), working there since 1995, and serving four years as the dean of agriculture. He became an advisor for the Tennessee Chapter shortly after coming to UT from Kansas State University, where he had been professor of ag economics and assistant director of resident instruction for the Ag College.

It was at Kansas State that John became involved with FarmHouse, and the chapter initiated him as an associate member. He served a number of years as an advisor to the K-State Chapter and as mentor to many chapter members for over 20 years.

In 2011, John shared his estate plans with Allison Rickels, the FarmHouse Foundation’s executive director, and he became the second member to join the Foundation’s 100 legacies in The Making Campaign.

In early June of last year, John’s estate was settled, and his bequest to the Foundation of close to a half million dollars became the largest estate gift the Foundation has received.

The major beneficiary was the Tennessee Chapter’s building fund, which has the potential to be a game changer for that chapter. The K-State Chapter’s building fund also received a generous amount, as did the Foundation’s Annual Fund.

We celebrate John’s devotion and service to the Fraternity, and we are grateful for his generosity. John’s example as an associate member is a reminder of the role FarmHouse has played in shaping and building each of us.

Further, it underscores the opportunity that alumni and friends of the Fraternity have, through the 100 Legacies In The Making Campaign, to assure that the Fraternity continues to Build Men in perpetuity.

Our goal is for 100 alumni to step up and make provision for a bequest or other planned gift of $10,000 or more, which the donor has not previously advised the Foundation Trustees about. Ten thousand dollars ($10,000) is the

Foundation’s threshold for named endowment funds that become a permanent part of the Foundation’s support for the Fraternity. To date, 53 alumni have pledged over $3.6 million in estate gifts through the 100 Legacies Campaign, and we are working on more. We haven’t reached our goal—yet! To do so, we ask you to consider John

Riley’s example and how you might leave a legacy with FarmHouse. Many of us don’t have the opportunities that John had to directly advise and mentor our undergraduate brothers, but we can use our estate to support the Building of Men.

If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Allison Rickels, executive director, The FarmHouse Foundation, at Allison@ FarmHouse.org, (800) 722-1905, or me at Bob@FarmHouse.org, (505) 466-2523.

Homer Barnett (MN ’40) † John Beckett (IA ’30) † Rick Berg (ND ’78) Frank Bezdicek (MN ’67) Brent Bible (PU ’93) Olin Branstetter (OK ’48) † Martin Clark (IA ’49) † Richard Clark (WY ’59) Tarry Edington (MI ’61) Ward Edwards (IL ’32) † Roy Frederick (NE ’63) Larry Hageman (OH ’78) James Herbert (TN ’61) Michael Holmberg (MN ’68) Our Legacies in the Making Donors (as of July 31, 2015) | † indicates deceased

Merle Hunt (IA ’42) † Terry Jaspers (SD ’74) Dale Kennen (MN ’60) Jay Koths (MI ’47) Chris Lembcke (CO ’67) Jerry Lindley (PU ’52) Steven Lonergan (IA ’85) Arthur Magnusson (MN ’37) † Patrick McAllister (SD ’79) John Moseman (NE ’40) † Orville Mowery (IL ’25) † G Richard Munson (KS ’73) Scott Nagel (MN ’85) Gene Nesbitt (CO ’60) James Parochetti (IL ’59) Roland Peterson (MN ’77) Don Pettengill (MI ’58) Gene Pickler (NC ’54) Dallas & Brenda Powell Ken Pruitt (MO ’51) Gyles Randall (MN ’60) John Riley (KS ’79) † Russ Roberson (AU ’78) Louis Rosenau (ND ’68) Richard Ross (ID ’57) † James Rupp (CO ’82) Lawrence Schrader (KS ’60) Jeremy Settles (NM ’94) Dean Sims (IL ’37) † Roger Sorenson (MN ’50) † Charles Stuber (NE ’49) Laurent Taylor (ID ‘62) W. Lee Tucker (KY ’51) † Vince Ulstad (ND ’78) Albert Vannice (MI ’63) Jerry Walker (NC ’96) † Pete Wenstrand (IA ’70) Thomas Wickersham (IA ’38) † Jim Wieland (ND ’72)

LIVE. LEARN. LEAD. CAMPAIGN

FarmHouse Parents extend their Own Helping Hand in Memory of son

by Brittney Houck, FarmHouse Foundation Communications & Development Intern

For Dallas and Brenda Powell, FarmHouse is more than a place where their son, Paul, spent his undergraduate years. It is a group of men who supported their son and helped them through one of the hardest times of their lives.

Growing up in Colorado, Paul Powell (CO ’81) knew several men from his high school who joined FarmHouse at Colorado State University (CSU). It seemed like a good fit for him as well, so he joined FarmHouse in the fall of 1981.

Paul had always enjoyed livestock and raised Columbia/Hampshire cross sheep for show lambs during high school, which he sold to help pay for tuition. During his time in FarmHouse, he remained interested in livestock and decided to apply to veterinarian school.

It was after his decision not to go to vet school after being accepted on the first try that his parents realized something might be amiss with Paul. They became increasingly concerned and later realized he had symptoms of bipolar disorder.

He struggled with his mental illness, but was able to manage it with medication. After choosing not to go to vet school, he changed his major and graduated with undergraduate and master’s degrees in biology.

He then joined the Air Force as a captain and was very successful. However, he once again began to struggle with his bipolar disorder and decided to leave the military.

He returned to CSU to continue his education and lived in a small cabin near campus that his parents owned. It was at this time Paul re-connected with FarmHouse.

“He would ride his bike to the FarmHouse chapter for meals and conversation. The men were there for Paul when he needed people around him,” Dallas said.

However, his struggle with his mental illness continued and became more difficult. “In 2002, Paul made the tragic decision to stop his medications for his bipolar disorder and, shortly thereafter, took his own life,” Dallas recalled.

“After Paul’s death, the men of the Colorado State Chapter were a big help to our family. They initially assisted with the upkeep and remodel of Paul’s cabin. And they have helped us keep it maintained ever since,” Dallas said.

He added, “This is something the chapter continues to do even though they are too young to have known Paul.”

This has made such an impact on the Powells that they wanted to show their appreciation of FarmHouse and repay the men for all the support they have given their family.

Since their son did not have a family of his own, Dallas and Brenda wanted to find a way to honor their son into the future. FarmHouse meant a great deal to Paul and it has come to mean a lot to them as well. To remember him, and make provisions for what would have been Paul’s portion of their estate, they established the “Paul Dallas Powell Memorial Endowment Fund” with the FarmHouse Foundation.

Reflecting on why they chose to donate, Dallas said, “We wanted to show our appreciation, and we are continuously impressed with the goals and objectives of the Fraternity, as well as the Foundation’s mission to Build the Leaders of Tomorrow. We want to give the men of FarmHouse a hand up, not a hand out, by financially supporting them in meaningful ways.”

The purpose of the Paul Dallas Powell Memorial Endowment Fund is to provide funding for chapter housing, leadership training and/or academic scholarships for both the Colorado State and Texas Tech chapters where it is most needed. Colorado State was important in Paul’s life and Dallas has always had a strong bond with his alma mater, Texas Tech, so they felt it was appropriate to support both chapters.

“When I attended Texas Tech, the FarmHouse chapter had not been established yet. I worked at the University’s beef barn and was allowed to live there with eight other men for free. Looking back, this felt like my mini-FarmHouse during college,” Dallas said.

The Powells’ generous cash donations and estate commitment are part of the Foundation’s Live. Learn. Lead.—The Campaign for FarmHouse and the 100 legacies in the Making Campaign.

The Powells’ aspiration for their endowment is to reward those who have made a commitment to their future, and they believe that the men of FarmHouse stand by this.

“We want to help those who have set goals for their future,” Dallas said.

The Powells feel assured that the men of FarmHouse will carry on Paul’s legacy, and that when someone reaches out a hand for help, the men of FarmHouse will be there, just like they have been for their family.

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