Joan Gilmore donates $30,000 for future hall of fame museum, scholarship
Hall of fame member Joan Gilmore left $30,000 for the future hall of fame museum and a scholarship in her name.
Joan, who died in May, was inducted in 1994. This was her second major donation to the hall of fame.
Joan’s estate left $20,000 to kick-start fund-raising for the future hall of fame museum. The remaining $10,000 will establish the Joan Gilmore Scholarship for Mass Communication sophomores at UCO. It will be presented at the annual induction.
Hall Director Joe Hight said the generous donation will be used as part of the estimated $125,000 needed for a five-year commitment to start the museum and open it part time. Several display cabinets and other memorabilia are now housed in the hall of fame office in the Nigh University Center at UCO. Joan previously donated funds and several items from her and husband Al McLaughlin’s long journalism careers. Al was inducted in 1988.
