In the late 1960s, a curiosity ignited in Dale Chaffin when a young woman studying near a sunny window in the Fort Hays State University Memorial Union caught his eye. Little did he know that this woman, Sherry, would later become his beautiful bride of 50 years. The couple has made Hays their forever home, raised four children, and, most recently, created an endowed scholarship for aspiring future educators through a charitable IRA rollover to FHSU.
Before meeting at FHSU, Dale and Sherry faced various economic, social, and political challenges of their era. Sherry recognized the significance of obtaining a college education as a first-generation student. Her father had completed high school. However, her mother’s education concluded in eighth grade.
Sherry adjusts to college life
From rural St. Francis, Sherry came to FHSU alone and without a car. She steadily adjusted to her new surroundings and fell in love with Fort Hays State, its community, and, later, Dale. To delay what he considered an inevitable draft in the Vietnam War, Dale enrolled at FHSU to study business.
While neither would consider their initial meeting in the Memorial Union love at first sight, they agree that their first date to the Fox Pavilion for a class-assigned viewing of Tora! Tora! Tora! sparked their enduring romance. The couple married in 1972 and have remained in Hays since.
The Chaffins set up future educators’ success
Falling in love was easy for the couple while building careers took effort, trial, and error. Sherry initially completed a one-year secretarial program at FHSU, intending to find a job immediately after. However, being surrounded by the Department of Education’s passionate faculty as a part-time student secretary inspired her to change paths. She proceeded to earn a bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 1971 and then, in 1977, her master’s degree in counseling.
Dale also completed two degrees, first a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1974 and another in technology studies in 1977. Sherry retired after 29 years as an elementary educator with Hays USD 489, and Dale followed shortly after with 40 years in the commercial insurance industry. Their retirement benefits allow the couple to give back to the university and community that played a crucial role in their professional success.
Dale and Sherry Chaffin put retirement funds to good use
Their scholarship benefits full-time, on-campus, undergraduate, or graduate students pursuing elementary education or reading specialist degrees at FHSU. As Dale and Sherry recognize that finances greatly impact students’ educations, they prefer to help students demonstrating financial need.
Those 73 years of age or older can reduce the tax burden from their required minimum distribution by contributing directly to Fort Hays State University. Rolling your IRA over to a charitable organization offsets tax liability that regularly falls upon descendants listed in estate plans. Not only does this prevent the loss of retirement funding through taxes, but provides an opportunity to support students at FHSU.
Individuals can support FHSU through a variety of giving options. You can leave land to Fort Hays State or make a gift of grain. You can include FHSU in your will, trust, life insurance, annuity, or other estate planning. Transferring stock or an IRA to the university, as Dale and Sherry did is another option. No matter how you choose to give, your support will leave a legacy at FHSU and impact the future of our university. Thank you to Dale and Sherry Chaffin for paying it forward to the next generation of Fort Hays State students.
Contact the FHSU Foundation office at 785-628-5620. Click here to learn more about establishing a legacy gift like Dale and Sherry’s.