Honoring a Man and a Family

When Gordon Worsham wanted to honor his friend, Bassett Kilgore, he thought of SMU.

Basset Kilgore's grandfather, James Kilgore, was a member of the commission that voted to establish SMU in Dallas and with that vote the Kilgore tradition at SMU began.

James Kilgore joined SMU's first faculty and was well respected for his wisdom and judiciousness. He served as acting President of SMU, acting Dean of the School of Theology, and served on the SMU Board of Trustees until his death in 1950.

James' son, Donald Kilgore, graduated from SMU in 1920. Donald met and married Gladys Watson, class of 1921, and had two sons, Donald, Jr. and Bassett.

Both sons attended SMU and went on to medical school. Bassett became one of the finest neuroradiologists in the region. Bassett's children attended SMU, making them the fourth generation of Kilgores at SMU.

So, when Gordon Worsham decided to honor his friend, Gordon and his wife, Sudie, established the Bassett Kilgore Endowed Graduate Fellowship in Chemistry, the first graduate fellowship for the Chemistry Department.

The gift was made with a stock donation; a portion went immediately to the endowment. The balance of the stock funded a gift annuity that will pay income to the Worshams for their lifetimes. Thereafter, the funds remaining in the gift annuity will pass to the Bassett Kilgore Endowed Graduate Fellowship.

SMU thanks the Kilgore family for their service and loyalty to SMU and the Worsham family for their generosity. What a fitting way to honor a friend!