Establishment of Marshall Family Endowment Fund for Botanial Research
SALISBURY, MD---Salisbury University science students will be getting a major boost to support them in their studies of plants and plant communities thanks in part to a generous gift by Richard (Dick) and Elizabeth (Lou) Marshall of Salisbury.
The establishment of the Marshall Family Endowment Fund with a $25,000 pledge to the SU Foundation Inc. will provide continuing support for botanical research to be conducted in a 2000 square-foot greenhouse to be constructed as part of the new science building complex for the Richard A. Henson School of Science and Technology.
The number of biology students interested in botany and horticulture has steadily increased in the last 10 years,” said Dr. Tom Jones, dean of the Henson School of Science and Technology. “A modern greenhouse capable of controlled experiments with plants is needed to meet the needs of these students. We are building this greenhouse with money given to the University by Mr. Henson, and now the Marshalls have added the ‘frosting on the cake’ with their generous gift by establishing a means of financial support for students to conduct research with our faculty in the greenhouse.”
The owners of Marshalls’ Riverbank Nurseries in Salisbury saw the gift to SU as an opportunity to share their lifelong commitment to horticulture research with faculty and students.
The Marshalls share a long and rich history with Salisbury University, beginning with an aunt who graduated in 1927, Dick’s mother in ’29, his sister in ’55. The Marshalls met as fellow students and Lou graduated in ’58. Their sons’ wives each have degrees from SU and a sister-in-law was on the faculty for 20 years.
“You can see we owe a great deal to this institution and highly value the education we received,” said Lou Marshall.
“We appreciate the growing, multi-faceted presence of SU in Salisbury, reaching out beyond the campus to enrich the cultural, business, medical and educational environment of our community.”
“As nursery owners and growers all our careers, we welcome the opportunity to give back and support the new building’s greenhouse,” said Dick Marshall. “It will benefit students, faculty and the industry we love. The nursery industry is second only to poultry in the agricultural economy of Maryland so it is fitting that emphasis be placed on the sciences in this field.
“We want to share with the University and the plant industry alike, as both are dear to our hearts, and have a bright future.”