Legacy Profile

On a High Note: Dillingham family carries on musical and philanthropic legacy

The Dillingham family’s roots run deep through the history of Columbia College. It started with Roxy Woods graduating from Christian College in 1902, followed by her nieces Frances Dillingham ’29 and Louise Thompson ’33, and several relatives and family friends over the years.

As a young man, John Dillingham heard the story of when his grandmother passed away in 1933, and Aunt Louise was driven home to Kansas City by Christian College President Edgar Lee in order to be able to attend her and Frances’ mother’s funeral.

Cars line the path outside Missouri Hall, which was built in 1920 and used as a student dormitory for 65 years. Today, the first-floor conference room is dedicated in Francis Dillingham’s honor.

At the turn of the century, the Thompson and Dillingham families were cattle royalty. Frances’ father was one of the industry founders of the American Royal, and later her husband, Jay, was president of the Kansas City stockyards for nearly 30 years. John recalls learning to play the piano around the age of four or five on the family farm. “She said if she could hear me playing, that meant she knew where I was and I wouldn’t be in trouble,” he recalls with a laugh.

“Aunt Roxy was an unbelievable Dixieland pianist – I wish I had some of her recordings – so being associated with music is not some strange world to me,” he adds.

John – and Frances – grew up in a much different era than today. When new barns in the area were built the community would celebrate with a barn dance. “Everyone played what they could carry,” he says. As a young girl, Frances learned to play violin as well as piano. “Before there were cars and TV, that’s how you entertained yourself,” John says. Throughout her life, Frances maintained a close connection with her alma mater. She was president of the Christian College National Alumni Board as well as chairman of the college alumni fund, and served as a trustee in the 1970s.

Throughout her life, Frances Dillingham ’29 maintained a close connection with her alma mater.

In addition, she established three music scholarships: one in honor of her friend and former music teacher, Camilla Singleton; another to honor her sister Louise and her aunt Roxy, who took on the role of acting mother when the girls’ own mother passed away; and another to honor her mother-in-law, Edna Chestnut Dillingham, who attended Christian College in 1905. Following Frances’ death in 2011, John agreed to combine the three scholarships to form the Frances Dillingham Music Fund Endowment.

As the music program has grown, its needs have evolved. Columbia College didn’t have any sort of event to honor and celebrate the achievements of the program’s top students, and the family’s legacy of support now makes possible the Dillingham Family Music Showcase (see sidebar).

“Mr. Dillingham’s philanthropy has been central to our growth as a music program,” says Assistant Professor of Music Nollie Moore.

The Dillingham family’s support hasn’t only been financial: Francis donated her piano and 1893 Germanmade violin to the college, and also restored an 80-year-old grand piano that was brand new when she attended Christian College. That piano now graces one of the college’s practice rooms.

When Missouri Hall was renovated and rededicated in 2007, a stately first-floor conference room – located where Frances met her husband, Jay, decades before – was dedicated in her honor. “It’s obviously a special place, and I’m tickled to see everything the college has been doing recently,” John says. “It’s been great to have all these alumni, and other people, who think Columbia College is pretty special. It’s fun to watch it grow.”

To learn how you make an impact on students for generations to come by supporting or endowing a scholarship, visit my.ccis.edu/givenow or contact the Office of Development at (573) 875-7563. –KF

DILLINGHAM FAMILY MUSIC SHOWCASE

Part of the Dillingham music legacy is the Dillingham Family Music Showcase, which normally takes place each April. While the 2020 Showcase had to be cancelled due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, Columbia College is pleased to honor Kaitlyn Landers, Madi MertzEngland and Carter Moore as this year’s Showcase Award recipients.

Ann Merrifield, who served as Dillingham Scholarship judge for the last four years, expressed her pleasure at hearing this year’s honorees perform. “I continue to be so proud of the music program and the talent these students have,” she says. “It was especially fun this year to hear the seniors. I first heard them as freshmen, and their progress over the last four years is amazing!”

Kaitlyn Landers

Madi Mertz-England

Carter Moore