Morehouse College Receives $5 Million Gift to Launch Endowed Scholarship Honoring the Legacy of Iowa Pharmacy Owner Marion E. Williams

Retired Walgreens CEO L. Daniel Jorndt, who credits his success to some of the life lessons he learned in his youth while working at a Des Moines, Iowa pharmacy has established a $5 million endowed scholarship at Morehouse College to honor the memory of his first boss, pharmacist Marion E. Williams. The scholarship will help fund the education of financially-struggling students majoring in Business and Technology/STEM.

 

Williams, a 1957 graduate of the Drake University School of Pharmacy, was the beloved owner of a popular neighborhood drugstore named Williams Pharmacy. He was 87 years old when he passed away on July 6, 2018. He and his wife, the late Corliss “Cookie” Williams, cast a large shadow in their Des Moines community, serving as respected business leaders, philanthropists, churchgoers, and social activists. A lifetime member of Kappa Alpha Psi, Williams was a dedicated mentor to neighborhood children and college students, as well as his customers and employees. He personally invested in the professional development of his team at the pharmacy.

 

Jorndt, also a Drake University graduate, worked for Williams for four years, learning valuable life and business lessons from the successful entrepreneur. In 1963, he was hired by Walgreens, one of the nation’s largest drugstore chains. Jorndt steadily rose through the ranks at Walgreens and was eventually promoted as president in 1990 and then chief executive officer from 1997 to 2003. Jorndt was the first Walgreens chief executive officer who was not a member of the founding Walgreen family.

 

“Marion was a remarkable individual who had the ability to bring out the best in people. He was a coalition builder who nurtured future leaders of different races, ethnicities, and economic backgrounds and encouraged them to work together to improve the community,” said Jorndt. “It was Williams’ life of service that inspired me and my wife, Patricia, to give this gift to Morehouse College. Morehouse is an institution that is mission-driven to develop service-minded leaders.”

 

Founded in 1867, Morehouse is the only historically Black liberal arts institution dedicated to educating and developing men. It is the top producer of Black men who pursue doctorates in STEM, health professions, and the foremost feeder for Black men entering prestigious business schools, including Ivy League institutions.

 

"This $5 million scholarship from Dan and Patricia Jorndt will be a lifeline for students facing financial hardships who dream of earning a Morehouse degree but cannot afford tuition. Morehouse produces Black male excellence at scale and is the leading gateway to social mobility for Black men,” said David A. Thomas, Ph.D. president of Morehouse College. “Not only will this gift change the lives of our students, but it will also help Morehouse continue to produce a pipeline of men who lead and serve with distinction and strive to build bridges of unity and equity in the world."

 

The Williams family is moved by the generous tribute to their father’s legacy.

 

“Throughout his life, our father worked to inspire, educate, and mentor men from all races and all walks of life. He was proud of Daniel Jorndt’s success and grateful for his lifetime friendship,” said the Rev. Julie Williams Staples, J.D. “He firmly believed that Black economic advancement was a key pillar in building bridges of reconciliation and overcoming racial division, so this gift to support scholars in Business and Technology/STEM is a beautiful tribute in his honor.”

 

A shared commitment to community service was at the heart of Jorndt’s and Williams’ 50-year friendship. They kept in touch over the years by email. In addition to enriching the lives of his employees and customers, Williams established the Des Moines Men’s Ministry, which provides support for the homeless. He was also active in the effort to foster racial reconciliation between diverse neighbors and fragmented religious denominations in Iowa.

 

The Jorndts, of Bonita Springs, Florida, are also committed community leaders. The philanthropists have been generously investing in Chicago education for over two decades. Morehouse is the latest institution of higher learning to benefit from their benevolence. The College is in the midst of the $500 million “Making Men of Consequence” fundraising campaign to drive support for student scholarships, athletics, faculty research and recruitment, campus improvements, and the expansion of innovative academic programs.

 

“We are grateful to Dan and Patricia Jorndt for their generous investment in the education and future of Morehouse students," said Hodan Hassan, Vice President of Advancement at Morehouse College. "The Jorndts have entrusted this gift to the College because they support the Morehouse Mission to develop men with integrity who will lead lives of leadership and service, as Marion Williams did in his community.  We hope that this benevolent contribution will inspire others to join us in supporting the vital work of Morehouse College."