By Signe K. Skinion

An alumnus who once said SIU opened his eyes to the world and inspired him to pursue an education, has made it possible for non-traditional medical students to attend the SIU School of Medicine with fewer financial burdens.

Ray M. Watson died in 1993 at the age of 102, leaving a gift of $2 million to the SIU School of Medicine in Springfield. He attended SIU in 1909 when it was called Southern Illinois Normal University, and there was a total of 400 students enrolled. He practiced law, and never had time for a family, which he had said he regretted.

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One of my few regrets, in a full and generous life, is my lack of a wife and children, Watson said in his will. With this bequest, I am hopeful that in the years to come I will have provided, in some real way, for the family that was denied to me . . . I believe that a family may provide an important balance in a student’s life and may help make him or her a better person and a better doctor.

Watson wanted to set up a contribution to SIU in 1984 and first looked into cancer research. But he changed his mind in 1987 and decided on loans for medical students instead. Watson set up a $25,000 yearly loan for two to three medical students with families.

Recipients begin repayment two years after completion of residency training, and the money returns to the fund to aid other students.

Dottie Casper, wife of Watson’s late attorney Mark Casper and personal assistant to both men, said Watson really cared about the problems of family life.

He knew he wanted to leave something to SIU, and as he looked at possibilities, one being cancer research, he said why don’t we do something for the personal part of the doctor,’ Casper said. He felt medical school took something away from the family, and he wanted to make it easier on the family.

In his will, Watson said the loan goes to medical students with families to help create stability during difficult times.

I have come to realize that many students with families find that lack of funds causes their attendance at medical school to be a difficult burden on them and their family unit, Watson said. Often, the aid that is available is more readily accessible to beginning student-families than to those in their later semesters.

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Sandy L. Jennings, director of special programs for the SIU Foundation, said Watson was concerned with older medical students because of the extreme responsibilities placed on them.

What he wanted to do is keep families intact, Jennings said. By the time the students are in their third year, they are seeing patients, doing hospital rounds and trying to find time to study.

Dr. Rodney Lupardus of Edwardsville, received a loan from Watson during his last two years of medical school. Lupardus said if it hadn’t been for Watson’s generosity, it would have been more difficult for him to finish school.

It was really exciting to be chosen as one of the first recipients of the loan, Lupardus said. I feel fortunate to have benefited from his generosity. He helped make the last two years of medical school more enjoyable for me and my family.

Lupardus was married, with two children, when he attended medical school and now practices family medicine in Edwardsville and has another child. He graduated in 1990.

Dr. Carl J. Getto, dean and provost of the medical school, said 20 students at the school are married with children, and three are single parents, all eligible for the loan.

The loan is unique in that it targets a particular group of students. Getto said. We feel very lucky because it benefits our students and that is our number one goal to help our students in any way we can to become physicians.

SIUC President John C. Guyon said this loan is extremely unique for the University, and some medical school students are benefiting from the loan.

As far as loan programs go, this is unique because it is the largest, Guyon said. The loan is in effect now, and at least two students are benefiting from it one is a resident and one is a medical student.

Watson was an extremely unusual man who cared a lot for everyone he knew, Casper said.

He continued to practice law until he was 100 years old. About 100, he could no longer get around, but his mind was extremely sharp to the very end, Casper said. He was a very loyal person, and he opened his heart to a lot of people.

Getto said Watson is a credit to the pursuit of higher education and people should remember what he did.

It’s the largest single gift to the University and a credit to higher education. That a man in one profession could feel so strongly about colleagues in another profession to do this, it’s simply amazing, Getto said.