Kentucky Wesleyan College announces a generous gift of approximately $3 million from the late Dr. Willard T. Gillespie to the school’s General Scholarship Fund. Dr. Gillespie, a long-time Owensboro resident and dentist, passed away on July 28, 2016. Dr. Gillespie’s gift under his Last Will reflects his passionate commitment to Kentucky Wesleyan and his strong desire to make a significant impact on the College.
Wesleyan President Barton D. Darrell expressed the school’s appreciation for Dr. Gillespie:
“Dr. Gillespie was most supportive of the Kentucky Wesleyan mission and the education we offer. He also committed himself to the Owensboro-Daviess County community and understood Wesleyan’s significant influence and positive impact here. Dr. Gillespie had recently expressed to us his excitement about the things that are happening at Wesleyan and reinforced his desire to support the College. The Kentucky Wesleyan family, while saddened by his passing, is grateful to Dr. Gillespie and inspired by his commitment to what we are doing.”
Tom Keith, Wesleyan’s Vice President for Advancement, added, “We will make sure Dr. Gillespie’s gift is memorialized to commemorate his generosity and support of Kentucky Wesleyan College.”