Perhaps the most unassuming of millionaires, George and Helen Duckworth chose to live a life free of debt so they could later extend that same benefit to others. Now, after their passing, the two …
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Perhaps the most unassuming of millionaires, George and Helen Duckworth chose to live a life free of debt so they could later extend that same benefit to others. Now, after their passing, the two lifelong advocates of learning are leaving a legacy through an extraordinary donation to students in Warren County.
The Warren County R-III and Wright City R-II School Districts recently received checks totaling over $2 million apiece from the George and Helen Duckworth Trust.
One student in each district will be chosen annually to receive a scholarship from the funds. The amount of the scholarship will be the average of the tuition of state-funded universities in Missouri. That amount will be reviewed and change yearly. If a recipient is in good standing following each year of college, they may renew their scholarship.
“George and Helen were very simple people,” described the couple’s friend, Shawn McCord. “They lived a simple lifestyle and always paid cash for everything they had.”
George was a teacher in the St. Louis Public School System, before retiring to Warren County, where he bought a farm in the 1980s. Over the next few decades, he continued teaching as a substitute in the county schools.
Through the strict financial stewardship of George’s teaching salary, the Duckworths were able to reap the benefits of compound interest on what turned out to be several wise investments. Now, that frugality and patience on their part will help to afford educational opportunities for students in Warren County for years to come.
“It’s such a generous donation, and we’re very thankful for this opportunity to give students scholarships to make a difference in the lives of people here in Warren County,” said R-III Superintendent Dr. Gregg Klinginsmith.
The scholarship will be awarded to Warren County R-III and Wright City R-II seniors who show involvement in the community and a true desire and ability to succeed with a goal to continue their education at a trade school or institution of higher learning.
The R-III portion is being handled by the Warren County Investment in Scholastic Excellence (WISE) committee, and this will be the first scholarship the organization administers that can be renewed for multiple higher education years, even through a graduate degree.
“Mr. and Mrs. Duckworth’s community and education involvement will live on for years through the incredible legacy of a scholarship for students in the Warren County R-III schools,” said WISE President Carmen Schulze. “This is an amazing gift to the students of Warren County R-III.”
George and Helen, who met during the 1940s as he prepared to depart for service in the Navy, never had children of their own. Yet they valued their investment in youth and education over material possessions, choosing to live a modest life. They heated their home with a 100-year-old wood stove and never had air conditioning.
“Most of us that knew them had no idea of the wealth they were accumulating,” said McCord. “They both considered education particularly important. It had been a long-time desire to leave money to the Wright City and Warrenton scholarship foundations to enable students to continue their education.”
It’s a particularly exciting time for Brook Ramey, who is handling the R-II portion of the funds for the Duckworth Trust. Just a few years prior, the Wright City district received another donation exceeding $1 million through the gift of Chester O. Hoefner, providing tremendous opportunity to students and staff in the district.
“The fact our foundation has two endowments of over $1 million is incredible,” said Ramey.
Unlike with many scholarships, selection of the Duckworth fund recipients will not be based on prestige or academic achievement, but rather provide opportunities for students who aspire to learn but may not possess the resources.
“The desire is not to create another scholarship based on students’ above-average grades, but based on a student who shows a true desire and ability to succeed,” according to scholarship criteria provided with the donations.
