Wife of Dedicated UB Alumnus Funds Football Scholarship in Memory of her Husband

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- A loyal friend of the University at Buffalo, Kathleen M. Shepard, is making a major gift to the UB Division of Athletics for an endowed football scholarship.

The $250,000 donation is being given in memory of her late husband, Richard, a loyal UB alumnus, who, she noted, believed that "a high-profile athletics program, particularly a successful football team, brings prestige and plays an important role in the offerings of great universities."

Shepard said she simply is completing the plan started together with her husband, who died before they could make the scholarship donation that would share their good fortune with deserving student-athletes.

Grateful for the gift and the Shephards' long-time support, Bob Arkeilpane, director of the Division of Athletics, remembers Richard Shepard as "a generous individual who embodied the spirit of our loyal fans.

"Both Richard and Kathleen long recognized the importance of combining academics and athletics and the role that such endeavors play within the university community and Western New York," noted Arkeilpane, "and we value their leadership in helping us build our football program."

Shepard said she believes that others in Western New York who are aware of UB's long-standing academic excellence are increasingly beginning to respect the university for its goal of building "a strong athletics program, which engenders pride, friendship and loyalty among students and alumni."

Richard C. Shepard, who died in February 1999, earned his bachelor's degree from UB in 1948. Shepard's professional career included 25 years at WKBW-TV/Capital Cities, from which he retired in 1988 as general sales manager of Channel 7/Buffalo and vice president of the broadcast division of Cap Cities.

Kathleen Shepard, who also attended UB, said her husband never lost his love for football, nourished by his high-school coach, the late Dick Offenhamer, who later became a well-respected coach at UB. Also an avid Buffalo Bills fan, Shepard was the executive at WKBW-TV who worked with the Bills management to schedule annual pre-season games for telecast on Channel 7.

In addition to donating annually to UB's Blue and White Club -- which supports student athletes -- Shepard served as president of the General Alumni Board of the UB Alumni Association from 1965-66 and as president of the UB Bulls booster club.

Kathleen Shepard remembered her husband's lifelong loyalty to his hometowns of Kenmore and Buffalo, and his service on business and civic boards, including Anchor Bank, Schofield Residence, United Way, Easter Seals, American Cancer Society and the Episcopal Diocese in Western New York. Shepard also belonged to the Media Roundtable and to the Broadcast Pioneers in Florida.

Kathleen Shepard lives in Williamsville and Longboat Key, Fla.

For information on how you can support the University at Buffalo, go to http://www.buffalo.edu/giving