Fall 2005 - Oklahoma Christian University

Millicans establish $1M endowment2005 began in a big way for OklahomaChristian when Board of Trustees chairDon Millican and his wife, Donna, establisheda $1 million endowment to honorDon’s father.The J.J. (Joe) Millican Endowed Chair inAccounting will support Oklahoma Christianand the accounting discipline withinOC’s School of Business Administration.J.J. Millican was a respected Christianbusinessman, faithful husband and devotedfather. He worked as a certified publicaccountant and as a national partner withErnst & Young until he retired in 1980. Hepassed away in 1990.Don Millican is chief financial officer ofthe Tulsa-based Kaiser-Francis Oil Company.In addition to his OC board chairmanship,he serves on the university BusinessAdvisory Council.“I believe so strongly in OC’s worth andits mission. In honoring my father, I hopeto set forth an example of a man who heldChristian principles and integrity as his mostvaluable business assets,” Don Millican said.Besides scholarship monies provided bythe endowment, planned initiatives include alectureship series that will bring accountingand business experts to campus.For four straight years, OC graduateshave achieved the highest pass rate of allOklahoma universities on the CPA examination.In addition to its undergraduateaccreditation, Oklahoma Christian isone of just three Oklahoma universities tohave master’s programs accredited by theAssociation of Collegiate Business Schoolsand Programs.Children honor parents with endowmentThe children of Royce and Mary Miresrecently established a $100,000 endowmentin their parents’ honor at OklahomaChristian. The benefactors are Sue Antwineof Edmond, Joan Chuesberg of Hooker,Dolores Hanna of Columbia, Mo., and VidaWalker of Topeka, Kansas.Antwine, Chuesberg and Hanna attendedCentral Christian College, which later becameOklahoma Christian.The endowment will provide annualscholarship monies to one or more full-timeOC students who have completed their firstyear with a minimum 2.8 GPA. Studentsshould be active Church of Christ memberswho have shown leadership qualities inchurch, in school and in the community.A successful businessman and farmerrancher,Royce Mires gave of his wealthto support children’s homes, Bible camps,Christian colleges, mission campaigns andother charitable causes.“Central Christian College was reallyimportant in our lives and we believe in thegoals of Oklahoma Christian. It’s one ofthe best Christian schools and, with it beingin our home state, we want to help studentsattend there. We want strong Christians tobecome stronger and go out and make othersChristians,” Antwine said.Shumate donates house to OCLongtime OC friend and supporter RoyShumate has donated his Edmond home toOklahoma Christian in a part-gift, part-salearrangement beneficial to both parties.Shumate served Oklahoma Christian asan independent contractor for many years.The university will utilize the “ShumateHouse,” named in honor of Roy and hislate wife Maxine, to house visiting missionaryfamilies and other campus visitors.“Roy is a master carpenter whose imprintis all over the OC campus. He retiredfour years ago, but his love for OC and itsstudents remains as strong as ever,” OCpresident Dr. Mike O’Neal said. “Roy builthis home with his own hands, and it showshis expertise and tender, loving care. It isone of the best-built houses in the area andwe are honored to utilize it to make visitorsfeel at home while paying tribute to Roy’sand Maxine’s legacies.”Cascade College Receives Largest GiftDr. Don and Ruth Gambill of Roseburg,Oregon, recently made a $1 million gift toOC’s branch campus, Cascade College inPortland, Oregon.The donation of a 58 percent interestin an Umpquah River-front propertyrepresents the largest single contribution inCascade’s 11-year history.The Gambills are longtime Cascade supportersand contributed a separate propertytwo years ago worth almost $700,000.Stephen Eck, OC’s Director for AlumniRelations, said the Gambills’ most recentcontribution was in the form of a charitablegift annuity that provides tax-favored incomepayments from OC for the remainderof their lives.For more information on gift annuities orother estate planning issues, contact Eck at(405) 425-5118.21