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Contact: Jennifer Anderson (andersonj@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466
8/10/2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NATCHITOCHES- Dan Chase vividly remembers his days as an NSU Demon. Those fond memories are why Chase and his wife Lilly have donated $100,000 to the Northwestern State University Athletic Association to endow an athletic scholarship.
"I went through college on an athletic scholarship," said Chase. "I am real appreciative of NSU. If it weren't for Coach Turpin, I could never have come here."
Chase, who now lives in Baton Rouge, remembers the night he found out he would be able to attend NSU. After the last football game of his high school career for Waterproof High School, Coach Harry Turpin came for a visit in the locker room. He had never met Turpin before, so he was surprised when he was asked to play for the Demons.
"That changed my whole life, " said Chase.
Football was not the only love he found at Northwestern.
"The best single thing that happened to me in Natchitoches was meeting Lilly," he said.
Mrs. Chase was also a student at Northwestern. Their love and dedication to the school is why the scholarship will be named for the couple.
"I hope this will inspire people to do the same. Even if they cannot do it all at one time, they can do it in payments," said Chase.
Chase is the chairman and CEO of Dan Chase Taxidermy Supply Co., Inc. He and Mrs. Chase currently reside in Baton Rouge where they frequently host alumni gatherings. He is also a member of the NSU Foundation board of directors.
"This donation from Dan and Lilly Chase is a fine example of how alumni can enrich the college experience for many students," said Director of Institutional Advancement Tony Gustwick. "Their generosity will make a great impact on the athletic program as well as the lives of students for years to come."
According to NSU Athletic Director Greg Burke, the gift will help build NSU's athletic endowment fund. NSU annually award athletic scholarships to over 250 student-athletes at a cost near $1 million.
"The NSU Athletic program is extremely grateful to Lilly and Dan Chase for their generosity," said Burke. "This scholarship will make a difference for outstanding student-athletes now and in the future and will further assist NSU in competing at the Division I level nationally."
The gift from the Chase is the 5th gift of $100,000 or more in the past eighteen months. Two of those endowed academic scholarships, two were donated to the academic center campaign and one assisted in renovating the baseball stadium.