Audrain alumna donates $8 million to MU

MU officials have announced that $8 million has been given to the university from the estate of MU alumna Margaret Waters Jordan and her husband Gerald Jordan.

Of that money, $5.3 million was unrestricted, or not directed to a specific department, making it the largest unrestricted gift in the MU's history. This unrestricted donation will be placed in the Chancellor’s Fund for Excellence, with half used for scholarships, a news release stated.

The Jordans are the former owners of Waters Furniture in Vandalia. The gift was made in Jordans’ name and in memory of Margaret’s brother, William B. Waters, who was also an owner of the furniture store.

Students from Audrain County are expected to be given preference when scholarships are awarded using the gift. Any leftover funds will be available for scholarships for other MU students. The remaining $2.7 million is expected to go to MU Health Care to pay for indigent care costs, the release said.