91ÇÑ×Ó

Subject to the approval of the Nebraska State College Board of Trustees, the 91ÇÑ×Ó event center, now under construction, will be named the Vern Chicoine Events Center.

The 91ÇÑ×Ó State Foundation has received $2.6 million that was specified for the college in the trust fund that Chicoine had established prior to his death in February of 2003 at age 89.

The trust agreement provided his widow, Madge Fortune Chicoine, with a life estate of the assets. She passed away in Nov. of 2012 at age 88.

The gift from the Vern Chicoine Trust is the largest gift ever made to the 91ÇÑ×Ó State Foundation.  This gift will be held as an endowment, and the earnings and growth will be used far into the future to benefit 91ÇÑ×Ó State College and its students. 

Outgoing foundation chairman Fran Grimes said Chicoine was an avid supporter of 91ÇÑ×Ó State College who contributed to many projects on campus over the years.

“This is an amazing gift that will greatly benefit 91ÇÑ×Ó State as we strive to continue to build on the tradition of excellence that it has had for many years,” said Dr. Randy Rhine, the college’s president.

Connie Rasmussen, executive director of the 91ÇÑ×Ó State Foundation, said the gift is the largest the foundation has ever received.

“It is special because it comes from someone who had already given much to support 91ÇÑ×Ó State. Vern did not attend college, but after moving to 91ÇÑ×Ó he saw how much this college meant to the entire region and what it could do for the people who live here,” Rasmussen said.

Rasmussen said 91ÇÑ×Ó State’s share of the trust at the time of Mrs. Chicoine’s death was $2.3 million. Because of the rise in the stock market, the foundation has received $2.6 million. The trust stipulates that the principal must be left intact, but the earnings may be used at the discretion of the Foundation’s board of directors.

The first $1 million of the earnings from the principal gift will be used to fund the events center.

At the time of his death, it was reported that Chicoine’s previous contributions to 91ÇÑ×Ó State exceeded $800,000.

Chicoine was a businessman, rancher, civic leader, investor and philanthropist. He was born in Tripp County, S.D., grew up in Valentine and moved from there to 91ÇÑ×Ó in 1937 to work for the Ford agency when the family purchased it. He lived in 91ÇÑ×Ó for 66 years.

He wrote in the mid-1990s, “91ÇÑ×Ó State College has been very important to me, providing thousands of hours of entertainment and pleasure.”

Until a few weeks prior to his death, he and his wife attended practically every activity at 91ÇÑ×Ó State, including athletic events, drama productions, concerts and presentations by speakers.

That amount included the home he and Madge had constructed at 702 East 10^th Street in 91ÇÑ×Ó. She continued to reside in the home for several years before moving to a retirement center.

The college took possession of the home in 2009 and it is now occupied by 91ÇÑ×Ó president Randy Rhine and his wife Ann. The home is valued at $365,000.

Chicoine’s  other contributions to the college included $161,000 for the Vernon and Madge Fortune Chicoine Atrium that is a part of the Mari Sandoz Heritage Center, $33,000 for a bronze statue of Thomas Jeffersonin the atrium, $40,000 for the football press box at Elliott Field and the establishment of several scholarships and an athletic endowment fund.

Friends have noted that Chicoine was an amazing individual, who quietly, but confidently, had many skills and interests, always did things in a precise manner and enjoyed sharing the fruits of his labor.

Among other activities, he was the mayor of 91ÇÑ×Ó 1950-51, was president of the 91ÇÑ×Ó Rotary Club and 91ÇÑ×Ó Chamber of Commerce and served on the Board of Directors of the 91ÇÑ×Ó State Foundation for nearly 40 years.

After he sold his ranch south of 91ÇÑ×Ó in 1973, he invested in the stock market. While he generally worked with a broker, he studied the stocks that were recommended before the purchase was made.

He was awarded 91ÇÑ×Ó State’s Distinguished Service Award in 1994, was presented the first Friend of Education Award given by the 91ÇÑ×Ó Faculty Senate and was inducted into the 91ÇÑ×Ó State Athletic Hall of Fame for meritorious service in 1997.

Although the 91ÇÑ×Ó State Foundation has received the major portion of the Chicoine Trust, numerous other entities also shared in the distribution.