DeRidder Businessman Leaves $550,000 Gift to NSU

The Northwestern State University Foundation has received a gift of $550,000 from the estate of DeRidder businessman Richard Davis.

Davis, who died in 2006, left proceeds of $550,000 from timberland in Beauregard Parish to the Foundation. The money will be used to endow student scholarships, and the university will apply for matching funds for a portion of the gift, which could increase the total to $630,000.

"We thank Mr. Davis for his generosity which will have a lasting, positive impact on the university," said Northwestern State President Dr. Randall J. Webb. "It is humbling to learn about people with a willingness to help others in a meaningful way. This gift will touch many lives and will forever associate the Davis family with Northwestern."

Davis' father Richard "Rough and Ready" Davis was a baseball and track letterman at Louisiana State Normal School (now Northwestern State). It was his intention to leave this money to NSU to assist students from Vernon and Beauregard Parish, including student-athletes since his father competed for Louisiana State Normal School.

Six $5,000 scholarships will be awarded this year with three $5,000 scholarships being awarded to student-athletes and three $5,000 scholarships presented to students with at least a 3.0 grade point average from Beauregard or Vernon Parish.

"Richard was a good, honest and hard-working man," said his long-time friend Linda Davis. "He set up these scholarships to honor his parents but more importantly, to help young people further their education. He always tried to help people and wanted people to better themselves."

Northwestern's athletic program will receive $300,000 to create endowed scholarships.  The remaining $220,000 will go to the NSU Foundation.

"The NSU Athletic Department is forever grateful to Richard Davis for this thoughtful and generous gesture which will on an ongoing basis create educational opportunities for NSU student-athletes. The fact that Mr. Davis chose to establish this endowment in honor of his parents is especially meaningful," said Northwestern State Athletic Director Greg Burke. "It has been and will continue to be the number one priority within the NSU Athletic Department to offer the full complement of scholarships, in all sports, permitted under NCAA guidelines. The continued growth of the program's athletic scholarship endowment through gifts such as this one from Mr. Davis will certainly put the athletic program in a better position to sustain that priority."

The Foundation will use $100,000 to create an endowed scholarship fund and use the other $120,000 to create two First Generation Endowed Scholarships.

The initial First Generation Endowed Scholarship should receive $40,000 in matching funds in 2010 and the second should be matched in 2012. Students with at least a 3.0 grade point average from Beauregard or Vernon Parish will qualify for the scholarship.

Davis worked in timber management. He was a graduate of DeRidder High School and taught at LaGrange High School.

He served in the Airborne Unit 256th and instructed the Brigade National Guard in Lake Charles. He was the Third Battalion Security Officer, General Aide in the 256th and Captain Communications Officer in the Reserved Officers Pool.

He finished third at the 1990 National Tae Kwon Do tournament. Davis received the honor Outstanding Bean Farmer of the Year. He was past vice president of the Jaycees and a member of the Kiwanis Club and served on the Federal Land Bank Board of Directors and City Savings Bank Advisory Board. He was a charter member of the Beauregard Parish Airport Commission and treasurer of AUSA at Fort Polk. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of DeRidder