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Myrtle and Earl Walker Give $600,000 to Enable Purchase of Property for Ranken
Earl Walker graduated from the Ranken welding program in 1941 and ever since he has kept up with happenings at the school. Most recently he and Myrtle, his wife of 63 years, gave $600,000 which enabled the College to purchase a 60,000 square-foot building directly adjacent to the northern perimeter of the campus. The building was formerly a warehouse for a dairy foods company, operated by Raskas Dairy of St. Louis for many years. This gift paved the way for another contribution from Mary Ann Lee that enabled the College to purchase additional property to the north.
Myrtle and Earl Walker have four children, one son and three daughters. Myrtle was instrumental in the beginning stages of Earl's new business venture called Carr Lane Manufacturing Company, founded in 1952. Earl maintains that Myrtle always was and continues to be the driving force in the success of the company. Carr Lane grew over the years to become an international supplier of parts for airplanes and machinery. The company supplied six vital parts for the Apollo II space vehicle. Earl has served on numerous local boards and was recently awarded the Grand Cross in Washington, DC by the Southern Jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite; the Grand Cross is the Rite's highest honor. The Walker Scottish Rite Clinic for Childhood Language Disorders of St. Louis, Inc. was founded with Earl's philanthropic assistance.
Earl joined the Board of Trustees of his alma mater, Ranken Technical College, in 1997. He is a gentle man with a sense of humor who believes in the values of hard work and self-discipline. Ranken is grateful to Myrtle and Earl Walker for their very generous gift.
Mary Ann Lee Gives $600,000 to Complete Purchase of Raskas Properties Near Ranken
Mary Ann Lee believes in the future of the St. Louis region and she has demonstrated her belief through her support of so many local causes. Married to Ranken Trustee E. Desmond Lee, Mary Ann can frequently be found at functions for the St. Louis Science Center, the St. Louis Zoo or Forest Park Forever. Mary Ann loves the idea of solving challenges and especially enjoys backing projects that will impact future generations in the form of an artful fountain, a colorful carousel or improved facilities.
Mary Ann Lee became interested in Ranken Technical College through her husband, E. Desmond Lee who has been a Ranken Trustee since 1994. Mary Ann visited the campus in 2004 and remarked to President Ben Ernst that she was most impressed with the conduct of the students and the excellent condition of the campus buildings. She participated in a full campus tour and saw students learning in several technical departments.
Mrs. Lee heard about the plans to acquire the recently vacated buildings to the north of the campus, and became interested. Dr. Heschel Raskas owned the property and wanted to sell two parcels to Ranken, a warehouse building south of Page Avenue at Newstead that was subsequently acquired through a gift from Earl and Myrtle Walker and a vacated 72,000 square foot manufacturing facility on the north side, including a fenced 90-car parking lot.
Mrs. Lee agreed to give the funds to purchase the manufacturing property, thus completing the transaction to transfer virtually all of the Raskas property to Ranken. The College is now planning for the use of the entire space, which totals over 132,000 square feet. Ranken is grateful to Mary Ann Lee for her very generous gift.
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