One of Doniphan’s most cherished couples, the late Paul and Joe Anne Ripley, have left behind a legacy that will forever benefit families who live in the county which coincidentally, bears their name.
While they lived, the Ripleys were very intentional in the planning of a series of gifts totaling nearly $1.7 million to the county, the largest known endowment bestowed in its history.
The announcement was made July 26, as a group stood before a display honoring Paul Ripley at the Current River Heritage Museum.
Attorney Randolph Maness, administrator of the Ripley estate, said “Paul came to me and shared his vision for the county, which he had served as a solider, a teacher, professional photographer and philanthropist.”
Joe Anne Ripley died in 2010, preceding her husband by 10 years.
The estate included bequests to benefit Doniphan city parks, the Doniphan-Ripley County Library, the donors’ church, heart research and two endowments held by the Ripley County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks.
The largest bequest, more than $1 million, supports the Paul and Joe Anne Ripley Scholarship Fund, which helps Three Rivers College graduates from Ripley County as they continue their education at four-year schools.
“Mr. Ripley was a lifelong educator who was committed to ensuring that the Three Rivers College students from Ripley County would have the opportunity to pursue their goals and make a brighter future,” said Dr. Wesley Payne, president of Three Rivers College.
“It was both an honor and privilege to work with Mr. Ripley in the creation of the Paul and Joe Anne Ripley Scholarship Fund. Everyone at Three Rivers College looks forward to seeing the wonderful things accomplished by our students,” he said.
Maness said, “Paul valued a good education for our citizens and he also had a great deal of affection for the college. His gifts through the foundation will be a living symbol of that affection.”
“I believe this gift will significantly enhance the resources available for students in our county, both now and in the future,” Maness said. “This is a wonderful example of what our local folks can do to ensure a brighter future for our young people and the community.”
The Community Foundation of the Ozarks marks its 50th anniversary this year as the region’s largest public charitable foundation, serving a network of donors, 53 regional affiliate foundations (including the Ripley County Community Foundation) and nonprofit partners across central and southern Missouri through its mission of resource development, community grant making, collaboration and public leadership.
For the remainder of 2023, the endowment will provide an $8,000 scholarship. The application period opens Jan. 1, 2024.
In subsequent years, though, there will be at least $50,000 in scholarship funding available to qualifying applicants.
Residents of Ripley County and the surrounding area who are interested in making a planned gift to benefit their favorite causes and communities are encouraged to contact Randy Maness with Maness, Maness & Pennington Evans or the Community Foundation of the Ozarks.
As he presented the check for $1.7 million, Maness remarked, “Paul had a great love for this community and its institutions. This represents the final installment of many months of planning and a lot of work to get to this point. I wish he could have been here to see this day, but he knew very well what was going to happen.”