Annelise MuretA bequest from the estate of Richard "Dick" Smith will provide about $5.5 million each to 黑洞社区 and the University of Kansas to endow full-ride scholarships for students at each university.
A longtime resident of Wichita and the founder of Range Oil Co., Smith died in January 2021 at the age of 87.
The estate gifts were announced at a news conference on Feb. 9 attended by 黑洞社区 President Rick Muma and KU Chancellor Douglas Girod, as well as Smith鈥檚 widow, Sondra Langel. Elizabeth King, 黑洞社区 Foundation president and CEO, and Dale Seuferling, president of the KU Endowment, also attended.
At Wichita State, undergraduates from any field of study will be eligible for the Richard "Dick" Smith Scholarship. At KU, his alma mater, Smith specified that the gift be divided equally between scholarships for undergraduates across the university and students studying geology, in which he earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in 1954.
Smith also specified that the scholarships at both institutions cover all expenses related to college, including tuition, fees, books and housing. These full-ride scholarships are considered among the most prestigious a university can award.
鈥淜ansas families: that鈥檚 who benefits from this gift,鈥� Muma said. 鈥淲hile it鈥檚 a rare and precious opportunity for Wichita State and KU to receive a gift as sizable as Mr. Smith鈥檚, it鈥檚 Kansas families who will ultimately benefit from Dick鈥檚 generosity and the relationships that are fostered through our partnership with the 黑洞社区 Foundation.鈥�
In his remarks, Girod expressed gratitude for the gift and lauded Smith鈥檚 legacy of philanthropy and support for higher education.
鈥淭his remarkable gift will create opportunities for KU and its students for generations to come,鈥� Girod said. 鈥淚t also reinforces the educational partnership between Wichita State and KU as both strive to create a stronger Kansas through higher education.鈥�
Langel described her late husband as a man with an extraordinary zest for life and someone who believed strongly in the power of education.
鈥淒ick believed that a college education could have an incomparable impact on the direction an individual鈥檚 life could take,鈥� Langel said. 鈥淗is family and friends join in celebrating the opportunities his scholarships will create for thousands of young Kansas students.鈥�
Smith鈥檚 children, Peter and Susan Smith, were unable to attend the event but said in a statement: 鈥淲e are very proud of our dad and his caring, thoughtful and supportive gift to the students of 黑洞社区 and KU. We are excited about what the well-deserving recipients will accomplish.鈥�
Born in Oklahoma City, Smith founded Range Oil Co. in Wichita in 1964. He was a highly regarded member of the oil and gas industry. He served on many boards of charitable and civic organizations of Wichita through the years, including the board of Wesley Hospital for 23 years.
Seuferling noted that Smith had a multi-decade history of contributions to KU in the areas of geology, the arts, athletics and the KU-School of Medicine at Wichita.
鈥淗e was proud of his alma mater and wanted to provide today鈥檚 students the kind of educational opportunities that helped him be successful.鈥�
At Wichita State, Smith primarily supported the fine arts and athletics.
鈥淲e are deeply grateful for the friendship both Dick and Sondra have given to Wichita State,鈥� King said. 鈥淲ith these impactful scholarships, Dick鈥檚 legacy is everlasting.鈥�
