 About Whitney
THE
INCREDIBLE STORY OF EDWARD A. WHITNEY
"My
estate does not belong to me; I'm only its steward: it belongs to the
people and I dare not be careless with it." - Edward A. Whitney
Sheridan
area benefactor Edward A. Whitney willed most of his estate to
establish Whitney Benefits Inc., creating the first educational
foundation in Wyoming. According to his original trustees, Whitney
spent three decades of his life planning his gift to the people of the
County. He made extensive investigations in the East as to how trust
funds were structured for education, and repeatedly asked his three
associates, later to become the trustees of his estate, for suggestions.
The
Foundation was established in 1927, ten years after his death in 1917,
as provided by his will. In the years since the establishment
of
the Foundation the earnings from the trust have educated thousands of
youth, heavily funded Sheridan College and the YMCA, built Whitney
Commons Park and the Sheridan Ice Rink, established the Whitney Center
and benefited the area and its people in many other ways.
Learn more about Edward A. Whitney's life, travels, and interests. Following this link to read the eulogy from Mr. Whitney's funeral
services at held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, November 20th, 1917 as read by Rev. C.F.
Fisher.
| Whitney
Benefits Board of Directors |
 Mr.
Whitney specifically stated in his Will that, "The corporation
trustees, acting as such, shall receive no pay for their services, as
it seems to me that the selection and honor of serving on such a board
for such purpose would, with the opportunity given to benefit the youth
of their own county, attract men of ability and influence who would
find the work a labor of love, so to speak, and would willingly fill
the office of advisors and directors of the paid working officials into
whose hands they commit the actual working out of their plans and
instructions."
CURRENT WHITNEY BENEFITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Back row from left: Kim Love, Roy Garber, Everett McGlothlin, Maureen
Humphrys, Stephen Holst, Tom Belus, and Tom Kinnison. Middle row from left: David Withrow, Peter Schoonmaker, Samuel Street, and
Sam Scott. Front row from left: Val Burgess and John (Jack) Chase.
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MEMBERS OF THE
WHITNEY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Since
1927, when Whitney Benefits was created, 92 dedicated individuals have
served on the Whitney Benefits Board of Trustees. These 92
Whitney Trustees have dedicated over 1,007 years of service supporting
education and building our Sheridan community.
C .V. Davis 1927-1947
Alf Diefenderfer 1927-1945
F.A. Eaton 1927-1937
Edward P. Fitzgerald 1927-1935
W.G. Griffen 1927-1943
Vernon Griffith 1927-1959
Emerson Hanson 1927-1962
I.P. Hayes 1927-1945
B.G. McKeen 1927-1943
H.C. Stevens 1927-1929 & 1936-1945
J.D. Thorn 1927-1931
Allen Williams 1927-1934
N.P. Yentzer 1927-1929
E.C. Bowman 1930-1955
Peter Kooi 1930-1935
L.J. O’Marr 1931-1943
J. Frank Kirkpatrick 1935-1941
Ralph Carmichael 1936-1955
Lawrence S. Fuller 1937-1943
W.N. Shackelford 1942-1965
William D. Redle 1943-1959
O.G. Rhode 1944-1963
Edwin Small 1944-1947
James Wolfe 1944-1959
Dr. P.M. Schunk 1945-1945
Jackson Bentley 1946-1953
George Johnson 1946-1951
Andre Zoutte 1946-1953
Ralph Hylton 1948-1959
Ted Kellner 1948-1952
Hurbert O. Minick 1951-1958 | E.E. Edwards 1952-1959
James Carroll 1954-1960
Robert Holstedt 1954-1965
Charles H. Kane 1956-1959
J.W. Wilson, Jr. 1956-1961
Clifford H. Carroll 1958-1961
Harold Newton 1960-61 & 1972-81
Jesse K. Beeson 1960-1967
C.D. Calhoun 1960-1963
W.J. Christensen 1960-1967
William Long 1960-1975
Dr. Peter Madsen 1960-1987
Homer Scott, Sr. 1960-1993
Gus Booras 1962-1965
Henry A. Burgess 1962-1993
J. Gordon McCalister 1962-1965
Donald Roberts 1962-1965
Fred Kaufmann 1964-1969
William Welch 1964-1967
Warren Sheldon 1965-1969
C.B. Metz 1966-1993
Frank Panetta 1966-1972
Joe Parker 1966-1982
S. Watts Smyth 1966-1977
Burton Kerns 1968-1989
Ralph Foster 1969-1970
George Gligorea 1970-1991
Dorothy King 1970-2001
John P. Chase 1972-2013
W. E. Cook 1972-1991
Dr. George Ewan 1975-1999 | Jane Schroeder 1977-1991
N.A. Nelson, Jr. 1982-2001
David Withrow 1982-Present
David Parker 1986-1999
Ray Johnston 1989-1994
Waldo Forbes 1991-1999
Tim Barnes 1992-2001
Roy Garber 1992-Present
Darlene Reiter 1993-1997
Ky Dixon 1994-1997
Bruce Hendricks 1994-1996
Sam Scott 1994-Present
John Smith 1996-1999 & 2002-2005
Candy Hardesty 1998-1999
Janet Ludwig 1998-2001
Tom Belus 2000-Present
Tom Kinnison 2000-Present
Gary Koltiska 2000-2003
Tim Tarver 2000-2004
Tom Throne 2000-2003
Kim Love 2001-Present
Val Burgess 2002-Present
Mary Ellen McWilliams 2002-2005
John Patton 2002-2002
Dr. Sy Thickman 2002-2002
Maureen Humphrys 2003-Present
Peter Schoonmaker 2004-Present
Samuel S. Street 2005-Present
Stephen Holst 2006-Present
Everett E. McGlothin 2006-Present
Robert Prusak 2013-Present |
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Frequently Asked
Questions |
Whitney Benefits
Foundation Mission Statement:
It is the purpose of Whitney Benefits Board of Trustees
to carry out the wishes of Mr. Edward A. Whitney, as outlined in his
Last Will and Testament, dated May 9, 1917. It is the
intention of the Board of Trustees to act in a fiscally responsible
manner, while responding to the needs of its beneficiaries and our
communities.
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What is Whitney
Benefits?
Whitney Benefits, Inc.
is a non-profit educational foundation created by the Last Will and
Testament of the late Mr.
Edward A. Whitney of
Sheridan County, Sheridan, Wyoming, who passed away in 1917.
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Who are the
Whitney Trustees and are they paid for their work?
To view a list of all
past and present Whitney
Trustees, see About Whitney.
Mr. Whitney
specifically stated in his will that “the corporation trustees, acting
as such, shall receive no pay for their services, as it seems to me
that the selection and honor of serving on such a board for such
purpose would, with the opportunity given to benefit the youth of their
own county, attract men of ability and influence who would find the
work a labor of love, so to speak, and would willingly fill the office
of advisors and directors of the paid working officials into whose
hands they commit the actual working out of their plans and
instructions.” All Whitney Trustees are appointed by the
Sheridan County School Boards.
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How do I know if I
qualify for an interest free Whitney Benefits Student Loan?
Whitney Benefits Interest Free
Student Loans are available to:
- Graduates
of an accredited Sheridan/Johnson County High School.
- Students
who have obtained a GED from a Sheridan/Johnson County High
School or Sheridan College.
- Individuals
who have attended Sheridan/Johnson County Schools for seven years
including two years of high school.
- Individuals
that have had at least seven years of continuous residency in Sheridan
or Johnson County immediately prior to applying for a loan.
OTHER
REQUIREMENTS DO EXIST. For more information about obtaining a
student loan call (307) 674-7303 or send an e-mail
to studentloans@whitneybenefits.org.
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How is the
Whitney Foundation able to fund its programs?
In his will, Mr. Whitney
left his complete estate to the Whitney Benefits Foundation. Currently,
Whitney Benefits, Inc. is diversified in stocks and bonds, water and
mineral resources, properties, and real estate holdings.
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What is Whitney
Benefits currently doing?
Student Loan Program -
Since inception of the program in 1928,
through June 30, 2010, the corporation has loaned 5,168 students
approximately $28,941,081.89. For
the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2010 Whitney approved interest free
loans totaling $4,167,961.03 to 172 students; 141 students received
loans for the first time and 31 students had received loans previously.
Whitney Commons
- Mr. Whitney stated in his will that a
well-rounded activity hub was to be created in the City of Sheridan in
which citizens could find pride and enjoyment. In 2003, the
beautiful 5-acre park was complete and open to the citizens of
Sheridan.
Sheridan
Ice LLC- Sheridan’s community ice rink was completed in 2002
by Whitney Benefits. The rink offers a wide variety of
activities for everyone of all ages. For more information
about the rink visit www.sheridanice.org.
Whitney
Plaza - Whitney Benefits is in the process of planning a development
that combines retail, office, and residential uses as well as hundreds
of parking spaces. The development will include a new public
community square and the building designs are to reflect the Historic
Downtown Main Street and the Historic Railroad District.
Sheridan College
- In Mr. Whitney's will he specifically suggested the establishment of
a college in or near the City of Sheridan, Wyoming from the
corporation's net income, after the worth of the corporation exceeded
$1,000,000. Through the vision and generosity of the late Mr.
Edward A. Whitney, Whitney Benefits has played a pivotal role in
establishing the Sheridan college campus and programs. This
includes the first gift of land on which the campus is built, which now
encompasses 124.11 acres- all gifted by Whitney Benefits. In
total, Whitney Benefits' unmatched generosity and unparallel gifts to
Sheridan College amount to over $22 million.
Sheridan County YMCA -
In 2004, Whitney Benefits pledged to the YMCA a total of $4,250,000
over 5 years, with $2,500,000 to establish an endowment for the YMCA’s
future, and $1,750,000 for current operations and maintenance of the
YMCA building.
City
of Sheridan Water - In 2006, Whitney Benefits gifted the City
of Sheridan, 39,793,141 gallons of water to assist in keeping City
parks and greenways as well as the Whitney Soccer Fields at the YMCA
beautiful and green throughout the spring and summer months.
Bridging
the Community - The Henry A. Burgess Bridge, completed fall 2006, is
located on the current Sheridan Pathway system. The bridge
connects residential neighborhoods and the Sheridan Junior High School
to other community and educational centers such as the Sheridan County
YMCA, Sheridan County Fulmer Public Library, Kendrick Park and Whitney
Commons. It will also serve to enhance the Sheridan Pathways
and provide a safe route to the heart of our community.
Sheridan
County Fulmer Public Library - In December 2004, Whitney
Benefits gifted the Library Foundation $133,000 with the specific
intent of renovating and expanding the library reading room.
Sheridan
Community Education Funding - Whitney has funded two
vocational education grants to the Sheridan Community Education
Foundation. Whitney pledged funding to the
Pro-Start (food service program) and the Health Services Program at all
Sheridan county high schools.
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How do I contact Whitney
Benefits for further information?
You can contact the
Whitney Benefits Foundation by calling (307) 674-7303 or by e-mail.
The Whitney Benefits office is located at 145 N. Connor Street, Suite #1 in Sheridan, Wyoming.
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