Prominent founding families like the Schowengerdts are celebrated for the roles they played in establishing Warrenton and for leaving lasting family or brick-and-mortar legacies. George and Melna Bolm left their own generous marks on their community, the latest in the form of a $850,000 donation to the Warren County Historical Society’s (WCHS) endowment. The couple were WCHS charter members. George Bolm died in 2000, and Melna Bolm passed away in 2011. Proceeds from the endowment will be used for the WCHS building on Walton Street and other program expenses. “George and Melna gave their time and knowledge to this community throughout their lives,” said WCHS President Jan Sutherland. “We intend to be good stewards of their generous financial giving.” The Bolms also left more than $1.3 million to the University of Missouri School of Medicine for cardiovascular research, and Melna Bolm later donated additional money to fund a chair in the university’s ophthalmology department. Melna Bolm suffered from macular degeneration which affects vision, and George Bolm had a series of strokes. The couple also left a sizable donation to College United Methodist Church. George Bolm and Melna Landwehr were born and raised in Truesdale and graduated from Warrenton High School before pursuing their educations at Central Wesleyan College here. George Bolm served during World War II, fighting in the Battle of the Bulge. He was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds suffered in combat. Sutherland said that the Bolms helped shaped much of the community.They were pillars of College United Methodist Church, into which Melna Bolm was born. George Bolm helped organize the Warrenton Rural Fire Department as well as the Warren County Fair. The couple also started the first 4-H club in the county and was instrumental in the establishment of the University of Missouri Extension Center in town. Melna and George Bolm