Our Donors

• Dr. Ed and Lucretia Coulter
• Richard and Helen Drabckyk
• J.D. and Allena Dryer
• Jim and Jill Gaston
• Dr. Bernice "Bea" Gotaas
• Warren Haley
• Grover and Verona Hurd
• Integrity First Bank
• Joseph and Helen Keller
• Hugh McClain
• Jim McClure
• Don and Elizabeth McMullin
• Lela Mitchell
• James and Sally More
• Henry and Wilma Pattee
• Peter and Jan Peitz
• Arthur and Blanch Raef
• The Roller Family

• C. J. Aldrich
• Arvest Bank
• The Families of Charles and Freddie Blackburn
• John and Pauline Bolland
• Dr. Tom Bruce
• The Family of Bill and Phyllis Burleson
• Doris DeSousa
• Dr. Peter and Betty Dykstra
• Eaton Corporation
• First Security Bank
• The Family of Powers and Louise Fowler
• The Family of Frank and Barbara Graham
• Doug Gregg and Gregg Tractor Company
• Guy and Alice King
• Ed and Beverly Knickerbocker
• Dr. Kathy White Loyd
• Patricia Melson
• Danny and Donna Montgomery
• Ron Morris and Betty Douglas Morris
• Evelyn Motyka
• Kenny and Laura Newth
• Ozark Regional Arts Council
• Dr. Ben Saltzman
• Jossee Schliemann
• The SouthShore Foundation
• Ronald Switzer
• Bob and Mary Walker
• A.W. and Thelma Weitkamp
• Alice Westphal
• Norma Wood
• Anna Mae Wright
• Julie Wright

The old saying “charity begins at home” describes the philosophy of a man who lives in Arkansas, Michigan and Mississippi. And, while Jim McClure supports worthwhile endeavors in all three of his hometowns, like the Natchez Opera Festival and the Detroit Metropolitan Opera, his real passion is supporting the growth of the college in the town he grew up in – Mountain Home, Arkansas.

A native of Mountain Home, Jim McClure has honored his family’s rich history in the Twin Lakes Area with a gift naming the Wade Street gate at ASUMH in honor of the McClure’s. His mother Virgie grew up in Gamaliel and met his father, O.B. McClure, while attending Mountain Home Baptist College. “My dad had a business on the square downtown at the time,” said McClure, “and the two were married in 1918 in a horse and buggy in front of the girl’s dorm on the college campus.”

The McClure dry goods store downtown carried tacks and handles for home-made coffins back then, and as a line of ready-made coffins came on the market, O.B. McClure began carrying those too. By correspondence course, he learned the art of embalming and would travel by buggy to homes to embalm and prepare bodies for burial. That service eventually led to the creation of McClure Funeral Homes. The family founded McClure Funeral Home in Mountain Home in the 1940’s, and later sold the business to the Roller family. The same building that house the funeral home downtown was eventually bought by ASUMH and used for classrooms.

Jim McClure has also made a sizable gift to the college to name the convention hall of the Vada Sheid Community Development Center. This generous friend of ASUMH will someday be able to hear his beloved Opera performed on stage in the building that he helped make possible.

The Vada Sheid Community Development Center at ASUMH includes a conference room bearing the name of a Mountain Home native who made a gift to the university in honor of his parents. Warren Haley, whose gift includes both a monetary donation and a donation of arts and antiquities, asked that the gift be in memory of Bryan and Ruby Haley, his father and mother. Haley, who returned to Mountain Home in 1992 to care for his ailing mother after a long career in education, said his gift to ASUMH allowed him to pay tribute to his parents while supporting the work the college does locally. “Education has been my life,” said Haley. “I was elated when the property was obtained and the college became a reality here in my hometown!” Haley’s collection of rare Japanese cloisonné, Sumida pottery, and other artifacts are on display in the Community Development Center. He hopes that by exhibiting the collection on the campus, it will continue to inspire a study of the Arts in the Twin Lakes Area Cultural arts programs at Arkansas State University-Mountain Home (ASUMH) will benefit from a $50,000 gift from Warren Haley, according to Dr. Robin Myers, Chancellor.

“Warren Haley is an outstanding supporter and philanthropist of the arts in this region. His Cloisonné art and Japanese woodblock prints are housed at ASUMH and greatly enrich the lives of thousands each year who view them. His ongoing support through this endowment will provide a continued enrichment of our lives through these various performances and events presented in the future. We are grateful for Warren’s generosity and commitment to the people of this region.”

Beginning with the 2014-2015 season, the Haley Cultural Arts Endowment will fund cultural arts programs like dance, theatre, piano, vocals, drama and theater as part of the Performing Arts Series at ASUMH. Haley serves as a member of the Performing Arts Council at ASUMH.

About the gift, Haley said, “I have been inspired by the reception that the Asian arts and antiques collection on campus has had. The artwork has been accepted and revered by faculty and students. I’ve also been thrilled at how the Performing Arts Council has brought a great number of shows to the area. I determined that I wanted to be a part of bringing the cultural arts to the Twin Lakes Area for years to come. I’m excited that this will bring additional support to the Performing Arts Series in the future.”

Peter and Jan Peitz made a gift of $500,000 at a Friend-Raiser Christmas event in 2004 to the Our Commitment – Your Opportunity capital campaign. This gift secured a naming opportunity in the Health Science Building at ASUMH. The second floor of this new facility is named the Jan and Peter Peitz Nursing Education Center.

“To have the support of two well respected community members that have such a strong commitment to the health care profession allows ASUMH to achieve our goal of a state of the art Health Science Facility that will be instrumental in teaching our future health care workforce,” stated Ed Coulter, Chancellor.

The Jan and Peter Peitz Nursing Education Center will meet the ongoing workforce needs of the areas health professionals. The following programs are located on this floor: Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN), Registered Nursing (RN), and Bachelor of Nursing (BSN).

Mr. & Mrs. Peitz have a long tradition of supporting the health care community in North Central Arkansas. Jan Peitz grew up in Kansas and received her Associate Degree in Nursing from Boise State University and her Bachelor’s in Health Care and Administration from Ottawa University, Kansas. During her nursing career she worked in the Operating Room, as a staff nurse, educator, Trauma/Neuro Team Leader, Assistant Manager, and Director of Peri-operative Services. As she reflects upon her career, her time spent as the Cancer Resource Coordinator for Baxter Regional Medical Center at the Peitz Cancer Support House was the most fulfilling. Over the years, she has been active in both local and national boards of Association of Operating Room Nurses, as well as church organizations.

Mrs. Peitz has lived in seven different states. Following a career move in 1994, which brought her to Mountain Home, she met Mr. Peitz at a Baxter Hospital Foundation auction and the rest is history. “Our community is tops in friendliness, acceptance and generosity. It is a true privilege to call our area home,” stated Mrs. Peitz.

Mr. Peitz was born in Munich, Germany and studied in Lausanne, Switzerland and London, England. He received his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Management from New York University and was the founder and President of White River Industries in Cotter, AR.

Mr. Peitz passed away in 2024. He was active in many organizations including being the Director of the Hospital Development Foundation of Baxter Regional Medical Center and Cotter Chamber of Commerce; Chairman of the Board of Directors of Branson Bank; Chairman of Planned Giving for the Hospital Development Foundation and Co-Chair of 20/25 in Cotter; former City Councilmen of Cotter and Chairman of Cotter Planning Commission. In addition, he is an Advisory Director for US Bank.

Dunbar Auditorium was filled with anticipation preceding the announcement of a major gift during the Mozark Regional Orchestra’s Concert on December 19, 2005. Silence fell upon the crowd when Chancellor Ed Coulter took the stage to announce the $100,000 gift from Dr. & Mrs. Peter Dykstra. The gift funded the stage in the Vada Sheid Community Development Center.

The enthusiasm of the crowd was apparent, due to the fact; the performers and audience know firsthand the impact of this gift. Mrs. Dykstra has a long musical history that dates back to her childhood in Sarawak, Borneo. She began playing the piano at age five during the time that her father served as a district superintendent in a number of Chinese communities and supervised Anglo-Chinese boys’ schools and her mother was a Principal of a girls’ school.

Mrs. Dykstra has a Bachelor of Arts in Viola from Drury College in Springfield, Missouri. Throughout the years, she has attended master classes at the University of Southern California until their move to Mountain Home in the early 80’s. She has taken the equivalent of four years in piano, viola, violin, and cello. With such an extensive musical background the Dykstra’s gift was a perfect fit for the Community Development Center. Not only is Mrs. Dykstra and accomplished musician, she is has her Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology from the University of Southern California.

Dr. & Mrs. Dykstra share a strong medical background. Dr. Dykstra, a pathologist, and Mrs. Dykstra have collaborated on several published articles in scientific journals. Dr. Dykstra graduated from the University of Southern California Medical School in 1952. He served as a Resident Physician at facilities such as the Mayo Clinic and Los Angeles County Hospital. He volunteered and served two years in the U.S. Army, which stationed him at the West Point Military Academy Hospital. Many recognize Dr. Dykstra because of his affiliation with Baxter Regional Medical Center where he practiced from 1981 – 1997.

Mrs. Dykstra has been a member of the West Plains Orchestra where she manages both the Barjock String Quartet and the Con Brio Trio. Mrs. Dykstra played the violiste’ with the Mozark Regional Orchestra and also sits on their board. Dr. & Mrs. Dykstra shared the same vision that ASUMH has of a venue that will open the doors to expanded cultural experiences in the Twin Lakes Area, stated Ed Coutler.

Arkansas State University-Mountain Home was notified in the fall of 2005 of a bequest that would exceed $900,000 in holdings, investments, and real estate by the estate of Richard & Helen Drabczyk. This planned gift assisted in the construction costs of the Health Sciences building at ASUMH. The third floor was named in memory of Richard & Helen Drabczyk and will serve as an eternal reminder of how a planned gift can change the lives of thousands of students.

ASUMH lost a friend and leader on May 20, 2005 in the passing of Guy King, owner of Guy King & Sons, Inc.,a quarry, concrete and asphalt plant and construction company. King, 80, a Baxter County native, founded Guy King & Sons and worked there until his death. Guy and his wife Alice began a relationship with ASUMH during the initial construction of the campus. The presence of that first gift is still evident as King Drive circles the campus and is the main road on campus. Alice continued the commitment to ASUMH with a $100,000 gift that constructed the Guy & Alice King Lobby and entry into the first floor of the Health Science Facility. Alice passed away in 2015.

As Capital Campaign Chairs in 2005, Mike & Gayla Thompson took the challenge to heart, as they made a financial contribution that would build a new gate into the ASUMH campus. Named in honor of both Mike and Gayla's families, the Thompson-Martin gate graces the entrance on College Street and matches the beauty of the campus buildings.

Gayla Thompson’s twin aunts, Irene and Eileene Martin, were sisters of her father, Mr. J.V. Martin. Neither of these ladies ever married, so Gayla had “three mothers” whom she adored. They lived in Mountain Home their entire lives. Gayla selected the College Street entrance to campus to honor her aunts because they valued education so much and attended school on this street in a former college. Both of Gayla’s aunts are deceased now, but Gayla says they were thrilled when Arkansas State University came to town. They knew that it would mean many residents of Mountain Home who might not have had an opportunity to go to college away from home would now be able to pursue an education. They were very proud of ASUMH.

Mike Thompson’s parents, Jo and Bill Thompson, were from Cotter. Jo was a Home Education major at the University of Arkansas and Bill attended college in Colorado. After returning to Mountain Home after the War, he started Thompson Insurance, one of the oldest existing businesses in Mountain Home. Many years later, Thompson Insurance merged with another company to become The Insurance Group.

Both of these families loved the Twin Lakes Area and appreciated progress and seeing Mountain Home grow. In honoring their families on the College Street gate, the Thompson and Martin families will always be a part of the campus that they were so proud of.