Lincoln (Neb.) - Oct. 8, 1999 - A longtime supporter of the University of Nebraska and agricultural leader and his wife have been honored by their son and daughter-in-law, who have endowed an academic chair in their names at the University of Nebraska- Lincoln.
Jeff and Tricia Raikes of Seattle have established the Ralph and Alice Raikes Chair in Plant Sciences. The chair will be housed in the department of agronomy in the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources and will be used to further interdisciplinary efforts between IANR and the College of Arts and Sciences.
The Raikes Chair has been awarded to Sally Mackenzie, the first director of the Plant Sciences Initiative at UNL. Mackenzie has formal appointments in agronomy at IANR and the School of Biological Sciences in Arts and Sciences. Her expertise will benefit the many interdisciplinary programs at UNL as the award will not only provide her with a salary stipend, but will also be used to enhance her program budgets.
"I am grateful to have the opportunity to lead the Plant Sciences Initiative at UNL," said Mackenzie, a former professor at Purdue University. "By focusing on recruiting outstanding faculty members, building a program that will assist us in learning more about plant species important to agriculture and attracting excellent students to the field, we can reach the Raikes' objective of forming a cohesive interdisciplinary plant sciences program at UNL worthy of international recognition."
Jeff and Tricia Raikes' $500,000 gift was supplemented by a match from the Donald and Mildred Othmer estate, making the total endowment for the chair $1 million.
The Othmer gift was a $125 million gift to the university 1998. Some 75 percent of the income from that fund is targeted to support chemical engineering programs at the university and help upgrade technology on the Lincoln campus. An additional 12.5 percent is earmarked toward enhancing other academic programs, in this case the Plant Science Initiative. The remaining 12.5 percent is devoted to "enhancing the facilities and functions of the NU regents and university administration."
"The creation of the Raikes chair and the appointment of Dr. Sally Mackenzie to be the first holder of that chair represent an incredible one-two punch that moves the university forward to a new level," said UNL Chancellor James Moeser. "The Raikes chair is the first of what will be a series of new endowed distinguished professorships, made possible with matching funds from the Othmer endowment. If we are able to fill all 24 of these new positions with faculty of the distinction of Sally Mackenzie, we will truly have moved the university to a new level of eminence. I am tremendously grateful to Jeff and Tricia Raikes for this magnificent gift, and I am equally delighted that we have brought to Nebraska such an eminent scholar as Dr. Mackenzie."
Jeff Raikes, a group vice-president with the Microsoft Corp., explained that the Ralph and Alice Raikes Chair in Plant Sciences made it possible to honor his parents' dedication to agriculture while ensuring future success for interdisciplinary programs at UNL.
"My parents put a strong emphasis on education and developed a strong relationship with the University of Nebraska, understanding the important role the university plays in the economic infrastructure of the state," he said "We made this gift to honor their commitment to the university."
Ralph Raikes, a 1930 University of Nebraska graduate, worked as a chemical engineer for Standard Oil before joining his father on their farm near Ashland. He and his wife, Alice, a junior high and high school science teacher, ran the farm for decades after that. The Raikeses raised five children, including Jeff and Nebraska state Sen. Ron Raikes, Mary Jo Hirsch, Susan Sugar and Ann Miller. Before his death in 1990, Ralph Raikes became a national leader in agriculture and in 1980 was appointed to the Federal Farm Credit Board by President Jimmy Carter.
"My father was a strong supporter of the establishment of IANR," said Jeff Raikes. "He paid close attention to the innovations occurring on campus and became one of the first farmers to grow hybrid seed corn and try self-feeding hog feeders. He truly believed that the university's role in agricultural advancement was irreplaceable."
Ron Raikes now oversees the daily operations of the family farm, continuing Ralph Raikes' belief in the importance of following innovations in the field. Sen. Raikes represents the 25th District in the Nebraska Legislature. His wife, Helen, is a researcher with the Gallup Organization.
"Jeff and Tricia's gift to the university reflects our family's longstanding interest in Nebraska agriculture and IANR," said Ron Raikes. "Because a strong program in agriculture must be part of a strong university, the gift is intended to support the entire campus. A major goal of the endowment is to enhance academic excellence at the University."
Jeff Raikes shares his brother's enthusiasm for supporting agriculture at UNL.
"Our family has been farming in Nebraska for nearly 150
years," said Jeff Raikes. "Ron and Helen have done an outstanding
job in continuing the success of the family business. Their
dedication has helped keep agriculture a significant part of our
heritage and our future. When the university explained its desire
to create a leading program in plant sciences, I saw an
opportunity for my family and me to give back to the university
in a way that helps students and faculty members develop a strong
interdisciplinary science program. Just as agriculture and the
family farm will always be important to us, so will the
university and the state of Nebraska. I am very grateful for this
connection."
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