David C. and Betty Farrell and Russell D. and Mary B. Shelden received the Robert S. Brookings Award for their devotion and service to the University and for building a bridge between the University and the region.
The Board of Trustees presented each couple with the prestigious award at the Nov. 4 annual Founders Day ceremony.
David C. and Betty Farrell
The Farrells are longtime benefactors who have given countless hours in service to the University, most notably the School of Medicine.
Their leadership gift for a student center and educational facility on the Medical Campus turned the dream into a reality: In 2005, the community celebrated the grand opening of the Farrell Learning and Teaching Center.
In addition, the Farrells, in partnership with the former May Department Stores Company, established the David C. and Betty Farrell Professorship of Medicine in the John Milliken Department of Medicine, held by Stuart A. Kornfeld, M.D.
Their generosity is felt University-wide, as Life Members of The Danforth Circle of the William Greenleaf Eliot Society.
David Farrell, an emeritus trustee, serves on the Medical School National Council as well as the Community Advisory Board for the Siteman Cancer Center.
His retirement in 1998 capped a lifelong career devoted to the May Company. He joined Kaufmann’s, the company’s Pittsburgh-based department store, in 1956 as a buyer and worked his way up through the ranks, becoming president of Kaufmann’s, as well as vice president of May, in 1969.
His ascent within the May Company is just as impressive. He was elected a director in 1974 and named president and chief operating officer the following year. In 1979, he was named chief executive officer and was appointed chairman and CEO in 1985.
David Farrell demonstrates support to the community in a number of ways and has led in many roles for cultural organizations such as the Saint Louis Art Museum and the Saint Louis Symphony Society. He also is active in the Greater St. Louis Area Council, Boy Scouts of America; together, they provide funds for scholarships that help inner-city children attend private schools.
Betty Farrell served on the University Libraries’ National Council from 1987-1990. A staunch supporter of St. Louis’ cultural, civic and educational organizations, she has worked on behalf of the Saint Louis Art Museum and the Missouri Botanical Garden.
Russell D. and Mary B. Shelden
The Sheldens are active volunteers and philanthropists whose contributions have helped advance medical education and research throughout Missouri.
In 1998, the Sheldens endowed a scholarship for the medical school’s Department of Anesthesiology.
A generous professorship, the Russell D. and Mary B. Shelden Professorship in Anesthesiology, followed seven years later. Evan D. Kharasch, M.D., Ph.D., holds the professorship.
This was in addition to the establishment of two professorships in anesthesiology at the University of Missouri-Columbia (UMC), where Russell Shelden, M.D., earned a bachelor’s degree.
Russell Shelden also is an alumnus of Washington University, graduating from the medical school in 1949. A few years later, he joined the staff at Research Hospital, and he stayed there until retiring in 1977.
Highlights of his career at Research include serving as chief of anesthesiology and president of the medical staff. In addition, he taught anesthesiology for 25 years at UMC.
He has received a number of awards for serving his profession, among them the Missouri Society of Anesthesiology’s Distinguished Service Award, UMC’s Alumni Distinguished Service Award and the UMC Medical Alumni Association’s Distinguished Service Award.
Russell Shelden has been active with the University’s Kansas City Regional Cabinet since 2000, and he chaired the Kansas City Regional Campaign.
Mary Shelden also believes in giving back to her alma mater, providing the University of New Mexico with a Native American scholarship fund.
She also supports scholarships at the University of Kansas School of Medicine.
Active in the Kansas City community, she has been involved with the Junior League, the United Way and the Women’s Division of the Kansas City Philharmonic, for which she served as a member of the board of directors.
The Shelden’s generosity to the University extends to the William Greenleaf Eliot Society as Life Patrons.