Jimmy and Donna Dean Estate commits historic gift to Wayland Baptist
PLAINVIEW — Wayland Baptist University this week announced what it is calling the largest estate gift in the institution's history from the estate of musician, sausage mogul and Plainview native Jimmy Dean and his widow Donna Dean.
The university declined to disclose the value of the gift, citing fluctuating markets and a donor request to keep that information private. The university said the commitment is potentially the largest of its kind in the school's 115-year history.
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“This exceptionally generous financial commitment exemplifies the dedication of Donna Dean and her late husband, Jimmy, to Wayland Baptist University’s mission and underscores the impact that estate gifts can have on the enhancement of Christ-centered educational opportunities for current and future generations,” Wayland President Bobby Hall said in a news release announcing the gift.
The previous largest estate gift to Wayland was from Tulia farmer S.F. Flores and his wife Leeta, which was received in January 1959. The gift comprised 27 sections of land in Moore and Sherman counties and 1,650 acres of land in Swisher County, which at the time was the largest single contribution ever received by a Baptist institution, with a value of more than $2 million, according to Plainview Herald archives.
The Deans first partnered with Wayland in 2008 with a $1 million contribution that prompted the university to name a new residence hall in his honor. At the time, it was the largest-ever cash gift to the university, according to previous Avalanche-Journal coverage. Following Dean's death in 2010, Donna Dean and the Jimmy Dean Foundation gave $5 million to build the Jimmy Dean Museum on campus. The museum opened in 2016.
“Wayland is honored to be the beneficiary of the generosity of Jimmy and Donna Dean, long-time friends of the university,” Hall continued. “Their love for Wayland and heart for helping others shine brightly through this estate gift, which will help shape the future of the university and strengthen its commitment to education, scholarship and leadership.”
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An estate gift allows an individual to make a significant contribution to the university, usually through a will, or through trusts, insurance, brokerage accounts, retained life estates and other financial instruments, according to Mike Hammack, Wayland's vice president of institutional advancement.
“An estate gift is a wonderful way to leave a legacy while benefiting the university and our community. Through their estate plans, Jimmy and Donna Dean have made an incredible gesture toward our students,” Hammack said.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Jimmy and Donna Dean Estate commits historic gift to Wayland Baptist
