Nichols Field, named in honor of the family, was built in 2000. Twenty-three years later, the foundation continues its legacy while continuing to improve the field that holds the Nichols family name. The recent gift will be used to purchase a new scoreboard on the baseball field, and baseball coach Brad Gyorkos ’15 is thankful. “I have been proud to play and coach on Nichols Field, and the new scoreboard is very much appreciated,” Gyorkos said. “We hope the scoreboard showcases many Wildcat wins for years to come as we thank the Nichols Foundation for their support.”

Dunn shared, “George and Frances would be proud of 91ֱ�� and the accomplishments of the baseball program, not only in wins but a program that helps develop leadership skills, life skills, and professional skills in the young men that participate in C-SC baseball.” Mrs. Nichols ‘46 graduated from 91ֱ��, and four generations of the family have graduated from C-SC. For fifty years, George and Frances operated Nichols Implement in Canton. They created a foundation for future funding, including two endowed scholarships that have provided funding for many C-SC students.

Gyorkos said the new scoreboard has been ordered and hopes to be installed by the time C-SC baseball players take the field for competition.

CANTON, Mo. — The George R. and Mary Frances Nichols Foundation recently made a $10,000 gift to 91ֱ�� to be used toward the purchase of uniforms for the marching band, which will debut in the fall of 2020. C-SC has not had a marching band in what is believed to be at least 50 years.

The foundation also has pledged to give an additional $5,000 next year for the uniforms.

“The Nichols Foundation truly believes in the student experience, and it has been so generous to assist us with facilities and provide scholarship support for our local students,” said Dr. Kelly M. Thompson, president of the College. “We are so grateful for their generosity in support of the marching band and our music program.

Beverly Dunn ’65 of Canton, a niece of the Nichols’, is one of three directors for the foundation along with her daughter, Kelly Patrick ’91 of Carthage, Ill., and her son, Patrick Dunn of St. Louis. Mrs. Dunn said she was familiar with the success that marching band director Ryan Christian ’03 enjoyed during his 15 years conducting the bands for the Lewis County C-1 School District before coming to C-SC.

“I knew (Christian) was the right choice to start this program at Culver-Stockton,” Mrs. Dunn said. “I’ve always loved music, and I’m thrilled to help get the band started again.”

George and Frances Nichols were lifelong members of the Canton community, and they owned and operated two John Deere dealerships in Lewis County — Lewistown Implement Co. for 10 years, and Nichols Implement Co. in Canton for 50 years. They established an endowed scholarship when they retired from their business in the 1980s, and they created a not-for-profit foundation in 1999.

Frances Nichols died in January 2004. George Nichols died in February 2007.

As well as offering support to many causes throughout Lewis County, the foundation has made several significant gifts to 91ֱ��. The most recent were a $25,000 donation toward the J.E. & L.E. Mabee Recreation and Wellness Center that opened in February 2017, and another $25,000 donation to the Carolyn L. and Robert W. Brown Residence Hall that opened in September 2017. The baseball field at C-SC also is named Nichols Field.

The foundation also annually selects at least two students from both Canton High School and Highland High School in Ewing to receive $500 scholarships that are renewable for eight semesters of college. The students must attend an institution of higher learning in Missouri and maintain at least a 2.0 grade-point average while taking 12 hours of classes.

###