The estate of Richard “Dick” Smith will equally split $11 million between Wichita State University and the University of Kansas to provide full-ride scholarships for students.
Smith was a Wichita resident and founded the Range Oil Co. in 1964. He also served on the board of Wesley Hospital for 23 years. Smith died in January, 2021 at the age of 87.
The estate gifts were announced on February 9th.
At Wichita State, undergrads from any field of study will be eligible for the Richard “Dick” Smith Scholarship. At KU, his alma mater, Smith specified that the gift be divided equally between scholarships for undergraduates across the university and students studying geology, in which he earned a bachelor’s degree in 1954.
Smith also specified that the scholarships at both institutions cover all expenses related to college, including tuition, fees, books and housing.
