For Immediate Release Contact: Barbara K. Laskin
May 18, 2004 Doug Stone
(651) 696-6203

Macalester Receives Gifts Valued at Over $7 Million

Macalester College announced today it has received two gifts valued at $7.4 million from an alumni couple who have been longtime benefactors and a popular political science professor who taught at the college for nearly 40 years.

Wilma Fox Leonard and George Leonard, both 1927 graduates, left the college $5.8 million. George Leonard, a businessman, died in 1991 at the age of 87. Wilma Leonard died in February at the age of 99.

The first of three generations of their family to attend Macalester, the couple created 13 endowed scholarships which this year benefit 26 students, made the lead gift to the college's natatorium (swimming complex), which bears their name, and were among the college's most active fund-raisers and boosters. Mrs. Leonard also recently made major gifts to the renovation of Wallace Hall, a residence hall, a research fund for students and the Alexander G. Hill Ballroom.

Most of their gift will go to the college's general endowment fund. The rest will be split among the George P. & Wilma Fox Leonard Athletic Department Endowed Fund, the Tom Leonard Fund (in memory of their deceased son) and the Wilma F. Leonard Endowed Scholarship Fund.

In the second gift, a special fund valued at $1.6 million was established from the estate of Political Science Professor Dorothy R. Dodge with the proceeds benefiting Macalester. The fund will provide annual scholarships for women political or social science majors. Dodge, who died in 2003 at the age of 76, taught at Macalester from 1955 to 1996.

"These magnificent gifts from the Leonards and Dorothy Dodge exemplify their long-standing support of Macalester and their understanding of the importance of stewardship," said Macalester President Brian Rosenberg. "The Leonards were committed over many years to making a significant contribution to the college and its students. George was fond of saying that his many contributions were a way of repaying the $125 annual scholarship he received as a student."

George Leonard worked for Wunderlich Construction, retiring in 1959 as executive vice president and selling his interest in the company. He became a major land owner in Sonoma and Marin Counties north of San Francisco. He was a Macalester Trustee and was active in a number of civic organizations in California. Despite his success in life, Leonard said he never forgot his humble beginnings when his family could barely afford milk.

Wilma Leonard wore a Macalester tartan when she celebrated her 98th birthday in 2002. She thanked the college in a letter: "I am glad to have so many of you dear friends. Macalester College has played a large part in our lives, and guided us in setting our goals. I'm sure that other people who have come into our lives have heard about dear old Macalester." At Wilma Leonard's funeral, Alexander G. Hill, assistant to the president at Macalester and a friend, noted that the Leonards "did not live extravagantly. Their focus was always on helping others to succeed."

Dodge became chair of the Political Science Department in 1968 and was named James Wallace Professor of Political Science in 1973. She was the coordinator of Macalester's International Studies Program and made study trips to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Tunisia.

"In many ways she was a pioneering academic in political science," said Professor Chuck Green, a colleague. "She was among a small group of women who received their Ph.Ds in the 1950s in a predominantly male discipline." She was known for her innovative teaching methods including developing and applying simulation models in which students took roles in functioning models of "real life" social science problems.

"Dorothy Dodge was an outstanding faculty member for many years and I can think of no better way to remember her than a scholarship for political science students in her name," President Rosenberg said.

Macalester is a private or national liberal arts college with a full-time enrollment of 1,835 students. Macalester is nationally recognized for its long-standing commitment to academic excellence, internationalism, diversity and civic engagement.