A Nebraska native who spent his career in California has given back to his home state with a $1.5 million gift to benefit the health and well-being of Nebraskans.
The gift was recently made through the estate of Paul Kamrath, a graduate of West Point (Neb.) High School and the University of Nebraska, to the University of Nebraska Foundation. It established the Paul Kamrath Memorial Fund.
Kamrath passed away in February 2014 at the Golden Living Center in Columbus.
This funding supports UNMC and its students, faculty and programs as determined by the UNMC chancellor.
“The Paul Kamrath Memorial Fund will serve UNMC in many important ways,” said UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D. “This type of unrestricted giving fosters an innovative spirit and the opportunity to support one or more promising projects that will truly make a difference. We are very grateful to Mr. Kamrath and those who made this possible.”
Born in Omaha, Kamrath served in the U.S. Army for eight years and during the Korean War. He received numerous honors, including the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal and the United Nations Service Medal for his outstanding military service.
Kamrath earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1961 and went on to receive a master’s degree. He worked for the space division of North American Rockwell in Downey, Calif., where he was involved in developing the Apollo 11 spacecraft.
After Kamrath left California he returned to his family’s Nebraska farm in Madison County. He later moved to Columbus where he lived until his passing.
Charles Rogers, an attorney and friend of Kamrath, said Paul and his parents, Cecil and Blanche Kamrath, believed strongly in the importance of medical research and development. “And they trusted the University of Nebraska to make the best use of their legacy,” he added.