High honors
Above is a photo slideshow of images from the June 11 ceremony to honor Ruth and Bill Scott with the University of Nebraska Regents Medal. (Photos by Andrew E. Nelson, UNMC public relations)
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For Ruth and Bill Scott, two of UNMC’s biggest supporters, their philosophy for sharing their wealth is really quite simple.
“A pile of money is a lot like a pile of manure,” Ruth Scott said. “It does no good until you spread it around. So far, we’ve had a lot of fun driving the spreader. Let’s hope the tractor doesn’t run out of fuel for a very long time.”
Scott made her remark at a special luncheon at UNMC on June 11 when the Scotts became just the second honorees to receive the University of Nebraska Board of Regents’ most prestigious award, the Regents Medal. The only other honoree was the late Chuck Durham, whose name appears on three different UNMC buildings.
The luncheon, which was held in the south atrium of the Sorrell Center, was attended by 60 people, including Omaha’s most famous citizen, Warren Buffett, and his daughter, Susie. Bill Scott was one of the top administrators with Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway firm for many years.
Other notables in attendance included:
- University of Nebraska President James B. Milliken;
- Five members of the University of Nebraska Board of Regents;
- Three chancellors from University of Nebraska campuses;
- All three of the Scotts’ sons and their family members, as well as a number of leading business people.
The Great Scotts
Among the facilities made possible in part by gifts from Ruth and Bill Scott are:
At UNMC:
- Harold M. and Beverly Maurer Center to house the College of Public Health
- Center for College of Nursing Sciences, free-standing building adjacent to the College of Nursing
- Student plaza
- Nebraska Arthritis Outcomes Research Center
- Michael F. Sorrell Center for Health Science Education, home of the College of Medicine.
- Fred and Maisie Paustian amphitheaters in the Sorrell Center
- Frederick F. Paustian, M.D., Gastroenterology Research Laboratories
- Ruth and Bill Scott Neuroscience Research Laboratories
At the University of Nebraska at Omaha:
- Mammel Hall, home of the College of Business Administration
- College of Public Affairs and Community Service
- Renovation of Roskens Hall for the College of Education
At the University of Nebraska-Lincoln:
- Support for the Tom and Nancy Osborne Center
- Support for athletic scholarships and academic support
- Support for programs of the Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction
The Scotts also have supported Project Achieve Scholarships for first-generation, lower-income students. In addition, their gifts go well beyond the university, reaching more than 100 organizations in Omaha as well as many individuals.
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In presenting the Regents medal to the Scotts, Milliken referenced a story on the Scotts in which Bill Scott cited a famous philanthropist who once said, “It’s a sin to die rich.” Milliken joked, “We don’t want Bill to be a sinner.”
Milliken was effusive in his praise of the Scotts.
“Our campuses are better places because of you. Our students have more opportunities because of you. Our communities are far, far richer because of you,” he said. “You are helping the University of Nebraska make a tremendous impact on the people of this state. You have our sincere thanks for the example that you have set and the gifts that you have shared with us.”
The Scotts are among the most generous donors in the history of the University of Nebraska, having made significant contributions to academic programs, scholarships and facilities.
“Bill Scott has said that it’s more fun to see the results of your philanthropy while you’re still alive,” Milliken said. “I think Bill and Ruth are having a lot of fun — and we are extremely fortunate that this remarkable couple places such a high value on investment in education and research.”
Members of the Board of Regents select the medal recipient, honoring individuals whose contributions to the University of Nebraska go beyond the support of a single campus. Considered the most esteemed of all university honors, the medal was established by the board in 2006 to recognize individuals whose service to the university has provided “exceptional benefits in furtherance of the goals and mission of the institution.”
More about Ruth and Bill
Ruth and Bill Scott are native Nebraskans who met in Ashland as children. They dated throughout high school and college, marrying after their junior year.
Ruth earned a bachelor’s degree in education in 1952. She taught school in Lincoln and later founded the Omaha Bridge Studio, where she continues to teach.
Bill Scott earned a degree from the UNL College of Business Administration in 1953. He joined Buffett Partnership in 1959 and Berkshire Hathaway in 1970 where he remained until his retirement in 1993.
The Scotts established the William and Ruth Scott Family Foundation in 1999.
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“Ruth and Bill Scott have quietly transformed the University of Nebraska, and they have done so selflessly and creatively,” said Board of Regents Chairman Kent Schroeder. “Ruth and Bill have a great vision for Nebraska’s future. Their gifts are providing first class educational facilities for our state’s future doctors, nurses, business leaders and public health professionals. Their contributions to research in neurosciences, arthritis and gastroenterology will ensure a better quality of life for future generations.”
Schroeder noted that the Scotts have preferred to stay out of the limelight, instead honoring three exemplary medical educators and leaders by requesting that facilities be named for them — UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D., Michael Sorrell, M.D., and Frederick Paustian, M.D.