University Alumnus Increases Gift to $5 Million to Saint John’s

Saint John’s University recently received an additional $3 million gift from alumnus Frank Ladner and his wife Julia to increase their endowed scholarship fund for undergraduate students at SJU and their commitment to the Abbey Guest House. Earlier, Frank Ladner and his wife Julia of Lawrenceville, Ill., pledged $2 million, $1 million to the Saint John’s Abbey Guest House as well as $1 million to their family scholarship fund.

The majority of their new commitment -- $2 million of the additional $3 million – has been directed to the Ladner Scholarship Fund.

The scholarship endowment was established in 1986 in memory of their parents: Pryor Chesnut and Marie Ladner Chesnut and M. Andrew and Mary F. Rooney. Scholarship income benefits needy and deserving undergraduate students who have distinguished themselves academically and who are active in extracurricular activities. 

A graduate of SJU in 1948, Frank Ladner was a University Regent from 1985 to 1999 followed by a term on the Board of Overseers of Saint John’s School of Theology•Seminary.  Frank Ladner has been involved with most facets of the Abbey and University and in 1997 was honored by Saint John’s with the Father Walter Reger Distinguished Alumnus Award.

Julia Ladner is a graduate of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in Indiana, received a master’s in theology from the college and has served as a trustee. Together they have six children. 

Frank Ladner has been in the insurance and financial services business since graduation. President from 1961 to 1983 of the Golden Rule Insurance Company and a former director, Frank Ladner is Illinois Branch Manager for R.T. Jones Capital Equities, Inc., St. Louis, Mo. He is the past president of the Illinois Association of Life Insurance Companies.

In commenting on his gift, Frank Ladner said, “Saint John’s has played an instrumental part in my life. Julia and I are grateful for the opportunity to give back to this next generation at the Abbey and University. We have always been well received by the Saint John’s community. It is our home away from home.”

“Twenty years ago,” commented Br. Dietrich Reinhart, OSB, president of Saint John’s University, “Frank and Julia made a very important gift to Saint John’s so that young men could benefit from the deeper experience provided by Saint John’s and the College of Saint Benedict. Last year and again this year, they made major additions to their family scholarship fund. In so many ways, Frank and Julia symbolize the legacy of giving, one generation to the next, here at Saint John’s. Scholarships are our most pressing need; generations of students who may not otherwise be able to afford the experience will benefit from Frank and Julia’s magnificent gift.”