Philanthropy Today
Philanthropy Today
Remembering C Clyde Jones; A Community Giant Episode - 255
Dave and Vern share a tribute to C Clyde Jones, reflecting on his century of service, his love for Manhattan, Kansas, and the values he taught by example. From endowments to focus, his voice offers a clear path for nonprofits and young leaders who want to make change that lasts.
• Quiet service over recognition
• Endowment building as core community infrastructure
• Practical advice for young professionals on choosing causes
• Focused missions over scattered initiatives
• Love of place and the case for Manhattan
• K-State ties and civic milestones
• Gratitude, remembrance, and funeral details
Funeral services are scheduled for November 15th at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church. Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home is handling arrangements; updates on their website and on KMAN’s site.
Philanthropy today is brought to you by the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation. In this episode, we feature a recently broadcast segment of the GMTF Community Hour as heard on News Radio KMAN. And good morning. Welcome to the GMCF Community Hour here on News Radio KMAN. I'm Dave Lewis, going to host this program with the presidency of the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation, Vern Henriks. Good morning, Vern.
SPEAKER_00:Good morning, Dave. So we we continue our efforts to try to expand this program to other states in the United States this morning, don't we?
SPEAKER_02:So I'm in Missouri. I am uh at uh the Kansas City airport. Uh we're ready to embark. Is it all right to say that that we're on our honeymoon? Yeah, okay. So so yeah.
SPEAKER_00:Well anybody that knows you won't believe it, but that's uh that's a great I appreciate it. Good times for both of you.
SPEAKER_02:So absolutely. We're looking forward to it very much so. But um we had a little change in flight, and I suppose that that may have had to do with some of the air traffic control situations, combining flights and everything. But we found out yesterday that they had combined the flight, and like, oh my gosh, how are we gonna do this? So we pulled together some technology and then we added a few things today. Because, you know, in this segment, Vern, we like to talk about some of the things that um are happening at the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation, some of our partner affiliates, uh, because there's always so much going on. But over the weekend, we got the news that uh someone who is near and dear to not just you and me personally, but to the entire community. And that is the passing of C. Clyde Jones. And um, you know, I was thinking about the litany of adjectives that you could use to describe C Clyde Jones not just as a person, but his accomplishments. And uh so um we've got uh basically four segments to the show today. Um uh the second segment we're gonna be visiting with some folks from the Armed Forces Community Foundation and then also Light, MHK, and Jaina for the foundation will be back to talk about some of the events. But Vern, we thought it uh would only be appropriate to to share some uh see Clyde Jones legacy and history. And we have um we've we were able to get him in for a podcast here. How long ago was this? A couple years ago?
SPEAKER_00:Well, we had the when we did the corner cornerstone awards for our 25th anniversary of the community foundation, uh uh 25 individuals were identified as instrumental in the history of the community foundation, and obviously C. Clyde was one of those. And so um, in reflection over the weekend of uh uh Clyde's life and his his efforts through the community, I thought of that uh that video, that recording. And so uh uh Felix was able to carve out uh four-minute segments, uh individual segments that I thought might be very interesting to show today as we kind of pay tribute to a gentleman that uh had a significance in the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation and where we're at today. Certainly had a significant uh uh impact on uh nonprofits in this community. Shepherd's crossing certainly being uh one of the most, and uh and just even uh Kansas State University being the first dean of the College of Business there. So it's just uh uh it's only natural that the the two of us could spend some time and kind of reflect on his life today.
SPEAKER_02:So absolutely. You know, he is so proud of everything with Kansas State, you know, and he was kind of one that spearheaded the transition for football to move from Memorial Stadium to the KSU Stadium, which is now Bill Snyder family stadium. And you know, he has a legacy that runs so deep at Kansas State University, and he was just uh on campus in September to do a lecture at the College of Business Administration, and um, you know, he kept moving, he kept going. Uh his mind um we went to go see him what two weeks ago, three weeks ago, maybe, and we just had a wonderful visit with him. But uh, you know, he was frustrated that his body wasn't keeping up with his mind.
SPEAKER_00:Yes, well, and uh and uh when he had to move away from uh move out of the house uh for for some assistance. Uh you know, he uh he accepted that, but uh he he lived over a hundred years at home, and uh there's not many people that can say that for sure.
SPEAKER_02:So what a legacy, what a legacy. Well, let's go ahead and kick into some of these uh memories that we have here, Vern.
SPEAKER_00:And uh so the the first uh of all that information here.
SPEAKER_02:So I'm just gonna let you introduce the segments.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, so the first video was when I uh uh asked uh C Clyde what his uh what his thoughts were when uh when I called him and and mentioned to him and informed him that he'd been uh uh selected as one of the 25 awardees for the community foundation awards event. So um we'll let the studio play that segment.
SPEAKER_03:But I called you and let you know that you received the Point of Son Award. What were your thoughts and feelings?
SPEAKER_04:I'm gonna say something that sounds a little bit self-effacing. I don't seek recognition of what I do. I never never sought it. So when something comes in through the back door like that, I feel very gratified. Uh I lost my wife on A1, 2016. She was the one who always looked at her saying, wow, wonderful people need to recognize you. I I didn't seek recognition. I I like to keep it quiet. And uh one reason to keep it quiet. I didn't necessarily want to get involved with another organization. But with the community foundation uh day one I wouldn't support you and his purpose and uh how it operates, centralizing really the organizational efforts to grow the endowment. I'm so happy this is endowment.
SPEAKER_00:Well, it's it's so it's amazing to hear his voice today, Dave, you know, just in this whole process and re reliving these memories, and uh it's uh it's pretty sentimental, that's for sure.
SPEAKER_02:So yeah, yeah. And we may be uh both uh sharing some tears 120 miles apart. Yeah, but um, you know, the man, you know, even at that age, and that that was just what a couple of years ago, correct?
SPEAKER_00:Right. Yeah, but he sounded good, sounded strong.
SPEAKER_02:How alert he was and how optimism.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. Well, the next video that we carved out was uh I asked him about advice that he would give young professionals uh this day and age. So let's play that segment.
SPEAKER_03:What would you tell a younger C5 Jones in life? What advice would you have for that individual or others in their 30s about philanthropy and getting involved?
SPEAKER_04:I I have advised quite a few youngers going in that direction. I tell them, first of all, watch for the opportunity. Most people don't see them. So watch for them. Make sure you have a passion for what that organization is doing. Don't always want that, you don't feel passionate because you won't be a good advocate. So for one, you really feel strongly about being also checking the organization carefully and then support his mission. Don't go around say, I don't like ideas, I don't like any of that. You can have criticism, take them to the organization itself, don't make them public.
SPEAKER_00:What wise uh sage advice, Dave? Uh-huh.
SPEAKER_02:He had plenty of that to share with everybody, didn't he?
SPEAKER_00:He did. I mean, he had life, lots of life experiences, and uh uh I often use the phrase don't sweat the small stuff. And uh, you know, C Clyde was one of those that saw the big picture, didn't get down in the weeds of things, and uh was certainly willing to give you his thoughts, and uh, but in a in a meaningful and uh certainly professorial way that as he was, and uh uh certainly exciting to listen to him and have a conversation with him all the time. So the next video is a uh next segment. Yeah, the next one is uh when looking 25 years ahead. I asked him about the community, you know, the community foundation we were celebrating 25 years at that time, and so I said, What uh looking ahead, what are your thoughts there?
SPEAKER_03:Well, we've had 25 years of the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation. We've been involved in practically every one of them in some way, shape, or form. But now we've got 25 years ahead of us. So where do you feel? The Greater Manhattan Community Foundation should focus its attention or give some thought to this community area.
SPEAKER_04:Um I have a strong advocacy for keeping focus. Uh when I see an organization sending out fives in too many directions, you can't have them or three or four at a time and do it well. So I urge you and other foundation execs keep your focus on purpose. And uh you know, four or five initiatives appropriate taxing organization in terms of the ability to do them all well.
SPEAKER_00:Well, Eric, and again, the such good advice for our nonprofit community. I hope they're listening today. I know there's there's a lot of things that that are taxing many of our nonprofits these days as we uh hit the year end, and uh listening to C Clyde to uh navigate those and is probably very wise. So well, the last uh the last one I'm gonna pull up is uh pretty fitting. Uh, you know, I just asked uh C Clyde, you know, was there's anything else that he would like to reflect on? And uh certain it was his love for Manhattan, Kansas, and so I think it's a perfect uh end of the the segments that we've got here today.
SPEAKER_04:I'd like to tell you about my love affair with Manhattan. I came here in 1960, expecting to be here three to five years. Uh back in the 60s, the only way to get is a pay raise and academic person. So I came here in the 60s, so I could say three to five years. And uh I fell in love with C Man. I had three small children, never a better city in the world to raise kids at that time. We had a very low crime rate, and uh I never locked my car in an apartment. I I just found this to be a kind of a town I wanted my wife and I to live in the school system. Uh see my kids were five, seven, and nine years old. So they went through all three graduating K State. So they went through all our grades here in the high school and uh I look back on that I think we've had a tremendous education system in Manhattan. There are a lot of competitors a lot of people saying it's so good. I tell you to compare it to other places we're very good. Look at our students who graduate and go to college, their ACT and SAT score are right up to the top 10%.
SPEAKER_00:Well, Dave, I uh it was a pleasure to be able to kind of revisit with C Clyde this morning and get some advice from him. And uh I know as you mentioned earlier, it's very uh very emotional to to kind of have that conversation with him this morning. I hope our listeners uh enjoyed uh visiting with C Clyde one more time or listening to him, and uh, but uh what a special man for sure.
SPEAKER_02:No doubt about it. And uh, you know, I thought it was uh rather poetic that uh he passed just a couple days uh before what would have been Midge's 100th birthday. And so imagine that celebration in heaven right now. So it's uh I think he's been looking forward to that. And uh, you know, for those of us that knew him and loved him deeply, we know what a great man he was, what a great friend he was, uh, not just to us as individuals, but to this entire community. His impact is uh it the impact that he had is just uh you know so deep. And uh, you know, the man had just about as great a heart as anyone that you and I have ever known in our lives. And uh he was like a father figure to me and to many others around, and uh, we are all the better for knowing C. Clyde Jones and loving him for the man he was for 102 years and 10 months. Crazy.
SPEAKER_00:Indeed.
SPEAKER_02:Beautiful man. Well, Vern, uh thanks for getting all that arranged on a real quick notice. We started talking about this yesterday, and uh I think that this is a wonderful and obviously a very fitting tribute to um to C. Klein Jones, who passed away Friday at the age of 102. Funeral services are scheduled for November 15th at 11 a.m. at the first uh United Methodist Church. The YML funeral home is handling the arrangement. And uh there will be updates on the obituary there uh on uh their website, and also that'll be carried on on K-Man's website as well. So, Vern, you have a good day. Thanks for uh being patient with me at uh in getting this airport show up and running today.
SPEAKER_00:Indeed, and uh thanks for working with us this morning, and uh certainly a shout out to Felix for pulling these videos together and these audios together pretty quickly.
SPEAKER_02:So Felix got run through the buzzsaw here in the last couple of days, and we certainly appreciate him uh uh getting us all done. So all right, Bern, we'll talk to you later. Have a good week, sir. See you next week. You as well.