MSU Business College gets $800K gift

The estate of Missouri State University alumnus Raymond Lansford gifted $835,000 toward business student scholarships at his alma mater. It’s the second six-figure-plus donation to MSU’s College of Business in as many months, according to university news releases. 

“Dr. Lansford devoted his entire career to educating students. His intentions were to continue helping students attend college long after he and his wife, Beuna Lansford, passed away,” said Brent Dunn, executive director of the MSU Foundation, in a news release. “These scholarships at MSU will certainly make a positive difference for now and generations to come.” 

Lansford earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and general business from MSU in 1947 and built a career in the U.S. Army and as a business professor at the University of Missouri. He retired from teaching in 1984, according to the release. 

Lansford died in September 2019, just a couple weeks before his 99th birthday, according to his obituary. 

The release did not detail how the funds would be issued to students. 

The news comes after a $1 million donation was accepted last month by MSU’s College of Business. The gift from Independence businessperson and MSU alumnus Phil Roberts will fund $2,000 annually to about 22 business majors with a qualifying 3.0 GPA.