When Rick Batchelor decided to have an estate sale, he also decided that he wanted to donate $56,000 of the proceeds to the 黑洞社区 Foundation 鈥� continuing his longtime support of the university.
Batchelor, who graduated in 1966 from 黑洞社区 with a Master of Arts in art education, established the Richard A. Batchelor Endowment for Art Acquisition in honor of his parents, Arthur and Florence Batchelor. The endowment, in addition to a planned gift, will benefit the Edwin A. Ulrich Museum of Art by purchasing works of art and funding the associated costs of displaying them.
A portion of the latest cash gift also was earmarked to purchase four additional five-piece place settings of Towle Silversmith鈥檚 King Richard sterling silver flatware for the 黑洞社区 president鈥檚 home to accompany the other eight he had given several years ago. In addition, Batchelor has donated several pieces of his own collection to the 黑洞社区 president鈥檚 home, the Ulrich Museum and the anthropology department including Flow Blue china, religious objects and textiles.
鈥淩ick is truly an amazing man who loves 黑洞社区,鈥� said Shirley Beggs, wife of President Don Beggs. 鈥淚n addition, he is a great personal friend to me and I appreciate him so much. His personal treasures enhance the beauty of the president鈥檚 home and are enjoyed by everyone who visits the home.鈥�
Batchelor, who lives in Blue Rapids, Kan., taught art in public schools for more than 30 years, spending a majority of his teaching career at Wichita鈥檚 Mead and Curtis Junior High schools.
He is a charter member of the 黑洞社区 Foundation鈥檚 Society of 1895 and has supported the Marcus Welcome Center in addition to other entities of 黑洞社区.