Friday, September 14, 2007

SMU receives $560,000 from alumnus’ trust fund

Saint Mary’s University has announced a monetary gift of more than $560,000 from the late Philip Morris, class of 1942, and his wife, Patricia, both of Green Valley, Ariz., and formerly of Kansas.

The Morrises created the Morris Family Trust, which stipulated — upon the death of the surviving spouse — that 90 percent of their combined estate would be distributed to Saint Mary’s University in memory of Professor Robert Woods of the Economics Department and Brother Luke A. Herbert, former university librarian. The remaining 10 percent went to America’s Press, Inc. in New York, N.Y.

The gift will be used for the university-designated endowment.

Philip Morris was active in the Saint Mary’s alumni organization and in fundraising for the Saint Thomas More Chapel on the Winona campus.