September 29, 2021
SWOSU Press Release
Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) has announced an exciting new philanthropic opportunity—the Hodge Pharmacy Scholarships Challenge—and Weatherford area philanthropists and longtime SWOSU benefactors Wes and Karen Magill have generously made the first contribution to the challenge.
The Hodge Pharmacy Scholarships Challenge invites contributions of all sizes and scopes from donors across the spectrum of giving with the goal of creating a new $500,000 scholarships endowment to benefit SWOSU College of Pharmacy students.
The funds provided by the Magills and future donors will be used to match $500,000, which was donated this past June by SWOSU alumnus and benefactor Jerry Hodge of Amarillo (TX) and his wife, Margaret, as part of their historic $5 million philanthropic investment.
“Wes and Karen Magill have kicked off our Hodge Pharmacy Scholarships Challenge in a spectacularly generous and thoughtful way,” said SWOSU President Dr. Diane Lovell. “We are so grateful for all that the Magill family does for SWOSU and are so proud of their distinctive and storied heritage here on the Hilltop.”
Karen (Ashworth) Magill is an owner and real estate broker with Magill Insurance & Real Estate. A 2002 SWOSU alumnae, Karen currently serves as chair of the Board of Trustees of the Weatherford Area Economic Development Foundation, Inc. and as chair-elect of the Board of Directors of the Weatherford Area Chamber of Commerce.
Wes Magill is an owner and vice president of Magill Insurance & Real Estate. He completed his undergraduate studies at both SWOSU and Oklahoma State University and his MBA at Oklahoma State University. He is a past chair of the Young Agents of the Independent Insurance Agents of Oklahoma, past chair of the Board of Trustees of the Weatherford Area Chamber of Commerce, past treasurer of the Weatherford Area Economic Development Foundation, Inc., and past member of the OSU Alumni Association Leadership Council. He presently sits on the Weatherford Industrial Trust and is a Deacon at the Weatherford Church of Christ.
Wes and Karen were married in 2004 and are the proud parents of Charlie and Porter.
“We are delighted to contribute to the Hodge Pharmacy Scholarships Challenge. Though we do not directly practice pharmacy, we have been powerfully impacted by the SWOSU College of Pharmacy through our family’s ties and history there,” said the Magills. “This contribution honors two people (Karen’s eldest sister and Wes’ paternal grandfather) whose direct impact on our lives is immeasurable. We hope other SWOSU supporters will step up and join us in investing towards a stronger future for the SWOSU College of Pharmacy.”
Karen’s sister, Kelly Elise Stovall, is a 1995 alumnae of the SWOSU College of Pharmacy. Stovall currently practices pharmacy as owner/manager of Anson Plaza Pharmacy, which celebrated its 20th year serving Anson (TX) and the surrounding areas. Kelly chose to attend SWOSU in the Fall of 1991. Karen, a thirteen-year-old in the seventh grade at the time, decided she wanted to move to Weatherford with her sister. They share a special bond from those days where Kelly would drop Karen off at Weatherford Middle School on her way to classes on the SWOSU Hilltop.
Wes’s grandfather, the late (Norval) Ralph Magill, went to work for Albert Eaton at Eaton Drug in Weatherford during his boyhood, and, following his marriage to Priscilla Fay Porter in 1946, he completed his studies at the SWOSU College of Pharmacy in 1950. Ralph and one of his sisters were first-generation college students. Ralph managed pharmacies in Crockett (TX), Diboll (TX), Altus, Shawnee and Oklahoma City before returning to Weatherford where he operated Magill Drug and, later, Magill’s East Side Pharmacy until retiring in 1993. Ralph and “Pris” were longtime Main Street figures where Magill Drug was a popular community staple frequented by patrons for nearly three decades. Magill Drug was located in the same building where Ralph went to work so many years previously during his boyhood.
“The reality is that if Ralph hadn’t decided to attend SWOSU pharmacy school, Wes’ family might not be in Weatherford today,” the Magills added. “And if Karen’s sister hadn’t decided to come to pharmacy school at SWOSU, Karen certainly wouldn’t be here, and our family would not exist. We owe so much to these two very special SWOSU pharmacy graduates!”
100% of contributions made to the Hodge Pharmacy Scholarships Challenge will be endowed solely for the benefit of providing financial assistance to students enrolled in the SWOSU College of Pharmacy.
Contributions may be made by visiting www.HodgePharmacyChallenge.com.
Donors may make contributions via check made payable to “SWOSU FOUNDATION” with “HODGE CHALLENGE” noted in the memorandum line; checks should be mailed to:
SWOSU Foundation, Inc.
100 Campus Drive
Weatherford, OK 73096
Gifts may also be made to the Hodge Pharmacy Scholarships Challenge using credit/debit cards or direct bank account debit via calling the SWOSU Office of Institutional Advancement/SWOSU Foundation, Inc. offices at 580-774-3267.
For more information, please contact Patti Harper at 580-774-3190, patti.harper@swosu.edu or Clarke Hale at 817-707-6795, clarke.hale@swosu.edu.
The SWOSU Hodge Pharmacy Scholarships Challenge is coordinated by the SWOSU Foundation, Inc., which was established in 1977 to promote philanthropy and distribute funds to support the activities and programs of SWOSU. Located on the Weatherford campus in the historic Burton House, the Foundation currently stewards over $36 million in assets for the benefit of SWOSU.
