Forrest City couple donates $10 million to UA School of Architecture
Lindsey Pruitt
Issue date: 2/20/08 Section: News
A Forrest City couple has donated a $10 million trust fund to the UA School of Architecture.
"[Don and Ellen Edmondson] have made a major gift that will transform the school in years to come," said Kendall Curlee, director of communications for the School of Architecture.
"In meeting the Edmondsons, it was clear that they were a warm and friendly couple who truly believe in the University of Arkansas," said Danielle M. Strickland, manager of advancement communications.
"This amount of money will allow for new possibilities and growth for the school of architecture," she said.
"Don and Ellen Edmondson have long shared their time, energy and resources with the University of Arkansas," said UA Chancellor John A. White in a press release.
"This gift will surely transform the School of Architecture, providing funds for the school to continue raising the bar on their already nationally recognized programs," he said.
Don Edmondson was a 1958 graduate from the Dale Bumpers College of Business.
"I had to take a class on the appreciation of fine arts, and my instructor was a man named Fay Jones who lectured on architecture," Edmondson said.
Edmondson was struck by Jones' love for architecture and passion for his work.
"I credit my gift to the School of Architecture to the inspiration that Fay Jones gave me," Edmondson said.
Jones, winner of an American Institute of Architecture Gold Medal and designer of the Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs, AR, also attended the UA before working as a professor to Edmondson.
"Fay Jones is probably the most famous architect to ever have come out of the University of Arkansas," Edmondson said.
Through the beauty of his work, Jones influenced Edmondson to appreciate architecture, and influenced his wife and him to live a better life, Edmondson said.
Jones eventually designed the Edmondsons' Forrest City home, and over time a deep friendship developed among the Edmondsons, Jones and his wife Mary Elizabeth ("Gus") Jones, according to the press release.
The gift to the School of Architecture, Edmondson said in the press release, is "to honor Fay and Gus and what they have meant in our lives, and hopefully to inspire other people to support the school and its mission.
"I hope that the gift will inspire people to give not just money, but their time and talents as well," he said.
"It is always wonderful to see the generosity of university benefactors, and the way their gifts can help the U of A continue on its path of excellence," Strickland said.
"Students, faculty, staff and the university community are forever changed when donors show this amount of confidence in the university by sharing their resources in such a tremendous way." she said.
"[Don and Ellen Edmondson] have made a major gift that will transform the school in years to come," said Kendall Curlee, director of communications for the School of Architecture.
"In meeting the Edmondsons, it was clear that they were a warm and friendly couple who truly believe in the University of Arkansas," said Danielle M. Strickland, manager of advancement communications.
"This amount of money will allow for new possibilities and growth for the school of architecture," she said.
"Don and Ellen Edmondson have long shared their time, energy and resources with the University of Arkansas," said UA Chancellor John A. White in a press release.
"This gift will surely transform the School of Architecture, providing funds for the school to continue raising the bar on their already nationally recognized programs," he said.
Don Edmondson was a 1958 graduate from the Dale Bumpers College of Business.
"I had to take a class on the appreciation of fine arts, and my instructor was a man named Fay Jones who lectured on architecture," Edmondson said.
Edmondson was struck by Jones' love for architecture and passion for his work.
"I credit my gift to the School of Architecture to the inspiration that Fay Jones gave me," Edmondson said.
Jones, winner of an American Institute of Architecture Gold Medal and designer of the Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs, AR, also attended the UA before working as a professor to Edmondson.
"Fay Jones is probably the most famous architect to ever have come out of the University of Arkansas," Edmondson said.
Through the beauty of his work, Jones influenced Edmondson to appreciate architecture, and influenced his wife and him to live a better life, Edmondson said.
Jones eventually designed the Edmondsons' Forrest City home, and over time a deep friendship developed among the Edmondsons, Jones and his wife Mary Elizabeth ("Gus") Jones, according to the press release.
The gift to the School of Architecture, Edmondson said in the press release, is "to honor Fay and Gus and what they have meant in our lives, and hopefully to inspire other people to support the school and its mission.
"I hope that the gift will inspire people to give not just money, but their time and talents as well," he said.
"It is always wonderful to see the generosity of university benefactors, and the way their gifts can help the U of A continue on its path of excellence," Strickland said.
"Students, faculty, staff and the university community are forever changed when donors show this amount of confidence in the university by sharing their resources in such a tremendous way." she said.
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