ASHLAND ─ The tallest building in Ashland County now bears the names of a couple ─ Bob and Jan Archer ─ who has supported college education for years.
The Archers recently donated more than $10 million to the Ashland University. It was the largest one-time gift in the university’s history. In honor of the couple’s contribution, AU named its library “Robert M. and Janet L. Archer Library” and held a celebration ceremony on Thursday evening.
AU President Dr. Carlos Campo said the Archers gave an additional $2.6 million to the university on Wednesday, at no one’s request.
Naming the library was the perfect choice to commemorate what the couple has done, the president said. They were both valedictorians at high schools. They love art and music. Above all else, they are people who love people.
Margaret Pomfret, vice president of institutional advancement for AU, said the majority of the Archers’ gifts will be used as scholarships for current and future students at the university, the Ashbrook Center program and the Ashland Theological Seminary.
“There’s no greater gift that one can give than to support someone’s journey as they receive their degree,” Pomfret said.
On Thursday, Bob said he and his wife likes that AU teaches students “how” to think rather than “what” to think. The reward for their support is seeing the gleam in the eyes and smiles of students and the university’s leadership.
To sum up their contribution in the community over the years, Bob attributed a quote of Ralph Waldo Emerson: what you do speak so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.
The Archers’ mission is to give back and help deserving students go to colleges, Bob said. He also said that there will be very little fortune left when they passed away because he wants nothing to go to the government.
Many leaders from AU and the community joined the ceremony to thank the couple’s contribution. The university’s baseball team and the women’s basketball team participated in the event to show their gratitude for the Archers’ support.
“I’m glad it’s not my funeral,” Jan said after hearing all the compliments from the speakers.
Her parents were both teachers. She said they would have loved to know that the names of their daughter and son-in-law are going to be associated with the heart of learning, education and knowledge.
She mentioned a slogan, “The tallest building in Ashland County is the library,” used in a Chamber of Commerce’s marketing campaign years ago. She said she’s always loved the symbolism and the town-gown connection.
She couldn’t be more grateful for the tremendous and “tall” honor, Jan said.
Jim Hess, AU’s chairman trustee, said those who have lived in Ashland for a long time are not shocked by the Archers’ generosity because they have seen the pattern. He said Bob and Jan were a power couple before it became a word.
“If you think it’s Bob Archer, and then Jan, no, it’s like Jan Archer, and then Bob,” he said.
The remark made the audience, including the Archers, laugh hard.
Hess said what he loves most about the couple is they do not just write checks. They are fully engaged with what they support.
The extreme generosity of Bob and Jan gives everyone hope amid a challenging time, Hess said. The gifts are going to bless young people for many years.
