Author: odellpa

Alumnus Entrepreneur Establishes College of Arts and Sciences Scholarship

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Kansas City businessman Albert Gerecht liked helping others succeed

Albert Gerecht, B.A. ’52, established his business, The Tax Gallery in 1956, one mile from his alma mater. After earning his degree and meeting his wife, Doris, he led a bold life making friends, building his business and supporting the community. Upon his death he bequeathed $400,000 for merit-based scholarships to further his commitment to helping people help themselves. Continue reading “Alumnus Entrepreneur Establishes College of Arts and Sciences Scholarship” →

Scholarship Honors Renowned UMKC Professor

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The recent death of Henry R. Frankel, Ph.D., who was known as “Hank” to his friends, has left a void for those who knew him. Passionate and enthusiastic about his family, his research and his students during his 43-year career at UMKC, Frankel’s legacy will continue to enhance the university through a new scholarship.

“Hank Frankel is the most accomplished and influential scholar the philosophy department at UMKC has ever had,” says Bruce Bubacz, Ph.D., Frankel’s friend and colleague. “His extraordinarily complete and extensive research into the controversy over the acceptance of continental drift and plate tectonics must be examined and understood by anyone who is studying that subject.” Continue reading “Scholarship Honors Renowned UMKC Professor” →

Classical KC: A New Music Platform for Kansas City

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Major donors support KCUR to create second radio station to provide 24/7 classical service

At a time when we most need it, classical radio has returned to Kansas City.

91.9 Classical KC began broadcasting June 30 and is now operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The music service also can be streamed through a new website at classicalkc.org. Continue reading “Classical KC: A New Music Platform for Kansas City” →

Scholarship Honors Emigrant Experience

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Family with strong UMKC ties furthers future success

Doris Edelman fled Germany with her family when she was a teenager as violence began to build against Jewish citizens. She instilled the value of education into her three sons, Mark, Alan and Ron, who have established an endowed scholarship in her name. Continue reading “Scholarship Honors Emigrant Experience” →

DJ’s Extensive Collection Enhances Marr Sound Archives

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by Patricia O’Dell

The late Gordon Spencer was a disc jockey and enthusiastic collector who interviewed jazz greats and other musicians and composers

Gordon Spencer interviewed many of the remarkable jazz artists of the 20th century including Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong. He began his career in radio in 1951 at WSRN, the student radio station at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania when he was a junior. His widow, Hannelore Rogers, has donated his extensive collection of albums, CDs and his reel-to-reel interview tapes to the Marr Sound Archives so enthusiasts and scholars can benefit from his remarkable career. Continue reading “DJ’s Extensive Collection Enhances Marr Sound Archives” →

Bloch Student and Business Owner Supports COVID-19 Relief

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by Patricia O’Dell

Aubrey Larkin has turned her entrepreneurial efforts to help the UMKC student assistance fund through design and sale of a new T-shirt

Like many UMKC students, Aubrey Larkin is living at home, going to Zoom classes online and hoping and waiting for the COVID-19 crisis to subside. But Larkin, who says she comes from a long line of entrepreneurs, mobilized her online shop, Aubrey’s Attic Company, to create a product that will help students in need. Continue reading “Bloch Student and Business Owner Supports COVID-19 Relief” →

Nontraditional Engineering Alumnus Gives Back With a Scholarship

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Jason Painter builds solid future for his family and future students

Jason Painter (BSME ’12) always liked school, and math was his strong point. But following high school graduation, he decided college wasn’t for him. He married his high school sweetheart and started working in residential construction. But after a few years, he began to reconsider his decision to forego a college degree. Continue reading “Nontraditional Engineering Alumnus Gives Back With a Scholarship” →