Bill and Judy Docking give to Legacy Foundation

Post date: Apr 10, 2018 9:33:26 PM

Legacy Foundation is grateful to receive a generous gift from Arkansas City residents, Bill and Judy Docking. The gift of $250,000 created the Bill and Judy Docking Endowed Fund. The Foundation’s Board of Directors will direct the Fund; however, the Dockings have shared their request the highest priority be support for tax-exempt organizations located in Cowley County that serve developmentally and/or intellectually challenged individuals.

"This endowment demonstrates the Dockings’ awareness of the need

to retain wealth in our community through private gifts reinvesting

resources back into the places where they earned their living and enjoyed a

good life,” stated Legacy Foundation Chair Janis Haynes. “They are

continuing the Docking family's long dedication to the people of Cowley

County and Kansas."

In 1956, Robert (Bob) and Meredith Docking and their two children, Bill and Tom, moved from Lawrence, Kansas to Arkansas City in order for Bob to purchase Union State Bank (USB). Previously, the Docking family had deep banking roots in Lawrence. In November 1966, following in his father’s footsteps, Bob was elected governor of Kansas. His father, George, served as Kansas governor from 1957-1961.

Following his educational pursuits at Kansas University, with degrees in political science, law and an MBA, Bill moved to Kansas City where he worked as a certified public accountant and later in private business until moving back to Arkansas City in 1983 to run USB and other family investments. For ten years, Bill was privileged to serve on the Kansas Board of Regents. He has also served as president of the Kansas Bankers Association. For many years, he has been a director of the Cowley College Foundation and a trustee and executive committee member of the Kansas University Endowment Association.

Judy and Bill married in 1995. A native of Blackwell, Oklahoma, Judy is a retired nurse.

“Bill and Judy are two of the most kind, caring and gracious people I know,” shared Yazmin Wood, Executive Director of Legacy Foundation. “We are fortunate that community leaders, like the Dockings, understand the work of a community foundation. Here we pool and leverage resources enabling their gift to make a greater impact than it could on its own. We are able to accomplish this work by building endowments and connecting donors to the critical needs in our community. Their gift is providing permanent support to organizations and projects in our local community.”

Legacy Foundation is a 501(c) 3 non-profit philanthropic organization incorporated in September 1996 by a volunteer board of directors. Legacy has current net assets of over $6.9 million. Since 2000, Legacy Foundation has received contributions totaling more than $8 million and distributed nearly $3 million in grants.

About Legacy Foundation: Incorporated in 1996, Legacy Foundation is a 501(c) 3 non-profit philanthropic organization that is regional in its focus. Legacy creates a stronger future for our area by building endowments, providing informed leadership and connecting donors to the critical needs of the region. For more information visit our website www.legacyregionalfoundation.org, find us on Facebook, or call 620-221-7224.