 | Board of Visitors minutes June 6, 1941 |  |
WILLIAM JAMES RUCKER GIFT OF $50,000 TO ESTABLISH A HOME FOR CRIPPLED CHILDREN AS AN ADJUNCT OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF ORTHOPEDICS OF THE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL:
Mr. Perkins appeared before the Board and read the following letter addressed to The Rector
and Visitors of the University of Virginia by Mr. William J. Rucker, of Charlottesville.
University, Virginia
I have recently become interested in the establishment of a home for Crippled Children to be owned
and operated by the University of Virginia as an adjunct to the Department of Orthopedics of the
University Hospital.
I am advised that a property consisting of some nine or more acres of land with large stone residence
and several outbuildings thereon and situated on the Ivy Road about one mile west of the University
may be purchased at a reasonable price, and when certain structual changes and improvements are made
in the buildings it will be adapted to this purpose.
I, therefore, desire to give you the sum of Fifty Thousand dollars to be used by you in the purchase
of this property, in making such changes, improvements and additions to the buildings, and improvements
to the grounds, as you may see fit, and for equipping and maintaining this property as a home
for Crippled Children so long as the necessity therefor may exist.
If, at any time in the future changed conditions should, in your sound judgment, render the continued
operation of the home inadvisable, you are authorized to discontinue such operation and, either use
the property for other purposes in connection with the University Hospital, or to sell and convey it
applying the proceeds to such other uses of the Hospital as you may think best.
It will be a source of gratification to me if you should see fit to designate the institution and
have it known as "The William James Rucker Home for Convalescent Children", but I do not make this a
condition to my gift.
This letter will be presented to you by my friend, Mr. W. Allan Perkins, and I will appreciate your
advising him of your desires in the matter as soon as may be convenient.
The President then made a statement outlining the need for such an institution as Mr.
Rucker's gift will make possible, and upon motion made by Mr. Stettinius, and seconded by Miss
Randolph, it was unanimously,
RESOLVED that Mr. Rucker's generous gift is gratefully accepted by this Board
and the Rector is hereby requested to prepare a suitable acknowledgment expressing to Mr.
Rucker this Board's appreciation of the great public service which he is rendering to the
Hospital of the University of Virginia and to the many children whom our Medical Staff is
striving to bring back to strength and usefulness; and that the institution shall be
designated and known as "The William James Rucker Home for Convalescent Children".
Mr. Perkins then presented to the Board a written offer executed by My Own Development
Corporation by which said Corporation offers to sell to the University a tract of some eleven acres
of land situated on State Highway No. 250, just west of the University grounds, at the price of
$22,000.00 cash. Discussion of this offer developed the following facts -
1st. That the property offered is well located for the purposes under consideration,
and is the property referred to in Mr. Rucker's letter.
2nd. That in the opinion of those members of the Board who are familiar with the
property the price of $22,000.00 is reasonable.
3rd. That possession of this property may be had at once and the necessary changes,
repairs, and improvements to the grounds and buildings may be proceeded with without delay.
This Board is therefore of opinion that said offer should be accepted but in order that
some further study of all surrounding conditions and facts may be made and all details of said
property's physical characteristics, and the status of its title be inquired into, it is-
RESOLVED, - (1) That the Rector be and is hereby requested to appoint a special
committee to make such study and inquiry, and that this Committee, with the advice of the Attorney
for the University as to the sufficiency of the title to said property, be and is hereby given
full power to accept said offer and do all things needful to close the purchase of said property,
paying the purchase price therefor from the funds given by Mr. Rucker, and receiving a deed
conveying said property to The Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia.
(2) That said committee shall also be charged with the duty of determining whether
any other property in the immediate neighborhood should be acquired by the University, said
committee being fully empowered to acquire such additional property if in their opinion it is
advisable so to do.
(3) That the President be and is hereby authorized to appoint such Committee or
Committees as he may consider necessary to plan and execute such changes, improvements, and
additions to the buildings and improvements to the grounds and equipment of buildings and other
facilities as to such Committees may seem necessary, but with the express limitation that no
more than $13,000.00 from the sum given by Mr. Rucker shall be expended on these accounts.
| Board of Visitors minutes June 6, 1941 | |