Back in January, Congressman Jerry Moran gave a speech about Ross Beach who had been selected as the Kansan of the year by the Native Sons and Daughters of Kansas. His tribute was stirring, touching as it did on many of Beach’s and wife Marianna’s contributions in Hays, Lawrence, Manhattan, and elsewhere. He credited Beach with no less than changing the Kansas Landscape, "helping to make the state an even better place to live."
The owner and chairman of Douglas County Bank, which he bought 38 years ago, and the president of the Kansas Natural Gas Corporation, Ross Beach simply shrugs when confronted with his contributions and laughs,
"It just growed."
It more than "just growed." First, there are the many funded projects undertaken in anonymity. A library struggled—it got the help it needed to put the books back on the shelves. The Kansas 4-H and the Eisenhower Foundation were helped by the Beaches. He’s served as the chair of the Kansas Fish and Game Commission and has presided over the Kansas State Chamber of Commerce. His business acumen and the economic impact he caused him to be inducted into the Kansas Business Hall of Fame in recognition of his contribution as a pioneer and leader in the oil and gas industry, banking, radio and television. Then there are the world-class performing arts center and museum of natural history in Hays, the Marianna Kistler-Beach Museum of Art at K-State (a 50th anniversary surprise) and the Beach Center on Disability at the University of Kansas.
Ross Beach sums it simply: "We enjoy people. We’ve gotten some funds—people need some funds. We enjoy helping them." Simple words from a man whose gifts of time, persistence, hard work, captial and leadership have altered the landscape of Kansas forever.
When you ask people in Topeka about Irv Sheffel, you get back immediate responses like, "What an absolute angel," or, "He is the embodiment of the joy of philanthropy."
The Topeka Capital-Journal printed a year ago "Irv Sheffel is irreplaceable."
None of that much matters to Sheffel, however, whose primary message when he’s trying to raise funds (always after his donation) is two pronged: First, invest in people; and second, it’s better to give while you’re living so you can see and enjoy the results of your gift. That philosophy has been a guide for him with projects such as the Topeka Civic Theatre and Academy he helped start in 1973, all the way to giving the lead gift to the new theatre in 1999. The theater has been named after Sheffel.
A retired executive of the Menninger Foundation, and still trustee, he says he lives simply, within his income. He wanted to see the benefits of the work his time and money could give. He contributes both, along with expertise to national causes and local boards, and still gives to organizations such as the local opera, the Mulvane Art Museum, the library, his local medical center and many more. Though he graduated from the University of Chicago and Harvard, he is a major donor to Washburn University.
His interest in people and creating change are well illustrated by his vision and willingness to take a risk, such as when he invested in the Topeka Community Foundation in its early years. He and his wife were early supporters and their confidence was important to the success of the organization, according to Chandler Moenius, development director. He continues to be very involved in the community and pays attention to not only the large projects, but the smaller ones as well where a small gift can make a tremendous difference in the life of a few people. He just says, "It’s hard for me to say no."
"I don’t need any more credit. I’ve had more credit than anyone deserves in a lifetime."
So says the low-key Ransom Bennett as he reflects over his last nearly 80 years. The Ottawa native wanted to be a lawyer but ended up taking over the family business, the Bennett Creamery Company (the major employer in town). He came home from WWII, married a childhood friend, Beverly Stucker, and even-tually ended up as CEO and Chairman of People’s National Bank and Trust, all in Ottawa.
Bennett may gain his philanthropic tendencies by heritage. His father was a trustee for over 40 years at the hospital named after him, the Ransom Memorial Hospital, and Bennett has been an executive and now life trustee at Ottawa University for 48 years, longer than any other person, where both his father and wife attended. He laughs and says they, like the bank, won’t let him really retire. In a letter submitted to the local high school for the coveted inclusion on their Wall of Honor, his three nominators in a joint letter said that his leadership has been critical to Ottawa University’s success through very difficult times in the past.
He downplays the money he’s given to organizations such as the United Way (which he originated in Ottawa), the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce, assorted historical projects, and much more. Saying he doesn’t consider himself an outstanding philanthropist, but more of a manager for his contributions of time and knowledge, he can solve problems others are having difficulty with due to his ability to "give advice and experience without interfering."
John Neal, president of Ottawa University, said: "Nothing happens in Ottawa and Franklin County without Rans Bennett."
Perhaps most telling about Bennett is his comment on a recent Ottawa trustee form, which asks "what programs or projects are of most interest to you, as a trustee or financial supporter." His answer is succinct: "Anything that needs consideration."