Sale of Toppan Property Yields More Than $16 Million for UW Programs |  
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Feb. 26, 2007 -- When University of Wyoming alumna Clara Toppan died in 2001 she left UW her 160-acre property known as the Lodge Pole Ranch, in Wilson, near Grand Teton National Park. The UW Foundation's sale of that property on behalf of the university in late fall 2006 has resulted in more than $16 million for UW programs, a record gift for the university.
"Clara was a dear friend of the University of Wyoming, contributing more than $700,000 during her lifetime," says UW President Tom Buchanan. "Now, her legacy gift will benefit a variety of academic and athletics programs at the university she loved. We are forever in her debt."
Among the recipients are the UW American Heritage Center's rare books collection, the UW College of Business and the college's accounting department, and UW's Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.
Proceeds from the sale of the Lodge Pole Ranch will enlarge the Clara R. Toppan Endowment Fund, which supports the Toppan Rare Books Library. The Toppan library, located in the UW American Heritage Center, features thousands of items, including Toppan's late husband's extensive collection of rare books, which were donated to the university after his death in 1966.
"Clara's generous giving to the University of Wyoming over many years has resulted in the development of a first-rate rare books program here," says curator Anne Marie Lane. "The Toppan Library at the American Heritage Center preserves 50,000 old and special books; and is a welcoming place where researchers, students, and members of the public attend numerous types of educational presentations."
The bequest also will enlarge the Clara R. Toppan Endowment Fund, established in 1995 to benefit the College of Business, and create the Frederick W. and Clara R. Toppan scholarship fund for undergraduate accounting students.
"Clara's relationship with the College of Business goes back to the late 1920's, when she registered as an accounting student," says Brent Hathaway, dean of the college. "Her contributions to the business college date back at least to 1968, when she created the Clara R. Toppan Endowment. The gift announced today will allow us to augment her previous gifts and offer scholarships to students to follow her in her chosen profession. And, in recognition of her career as a CPA, the college will allocate a portion of the Clara R. Toppan Endowment Fund to create the Clara R. Toppan Endowed Chair in Accounting."
Part of the sale proceeds will establish the George Raab Memorial Fund in memory of Toppan's nephew, for scholarships to deserving student-athletes.
"The Toppan gift will allow us to create an endowment that will provide funds for fifth-year scholarships and summer aid for our Cowboys and Cowgirls," says Tom Burman, UW's director of intercollegiate athletics. "This should have a positive impact on our graduation rates in the future. We are extremely grateful to Clara and the Toppan family."
Born Clara Raab, Toppan moved to Jackson in 1937 and worked for Grand Teton National Park. Toppan was one of the first UW female business school graduates in 1931. She was also the first female certified public accountant in Wyoming.
Toppan, named the College of Business Distinguished Alumna in 1995, was also twice honored by the American Institution of CPAs, once after 40 years of dedication to her profession and again after 50 years. In 1990, then Wyoming Gov. Mike Sullivan declared June 22 Clara Raab Toppan Day.
Photo
Rare Gift -- University of Wyoming Athletics Director Tom Burman, left, and UW College of Business Dean Brent Hathaway browse through Frederic M. Halford's 1897 trout fishing book "Dry Fly Entomology" in the Toppan Rare Books Library at UW. The rare books collection, the UW College of Business and the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics all will benefit from Clara Toppan's record gift to UW. (American Heritage Center Photo)
Posted on Monday, February 26, 2007
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