The Roots of Philanthropy
How far can the service, leadership and giving of one couple reach? In the case of Evelyn and Elwood “Buck” Waid, the answer is much like the roots of a strong tree—far, wide and across generations.
Buck and Evelyn’s generosity toward New Mexico State University and the Las Cruces community was evident during their lives and, through their estate gift to the NMSU Foundation, continues now and into the future.
Their history with NMSU began when Buck, a colonel in the Air Force, joined the campus faculty as the Air Force ROTC commander, a position he held from 1968 to 1970.
This was just the beginning. In addition to earning his master’s degree in psychology in 1970 and teaching as a professor of military science and aerospace studies, Buck was a vital member of several administrative teams that shaped NMSU as we know it today. As part of the Administrative Council under President Gerald Thomas in the 1970s and 80s, he led efforts on long-term planning for agriculture and energy research.
Buck made an impression on many at the university—students and administrators alike. This included Tommy Crawford, a former ROTC cadet who became a major general in the Air Force. In 2008, Tommy and his wife, Judith, established the Colonel Elwood J. Buck Waid Scholarship in Buck’s honor to support Air Force ROTC students. With this gift, the roots of the Waids’ Aggie family tree extended and the support system for students at NMSU grew stronger.
While Buck focused on campus initiatives, Evelyn gave her time and talents to the Las Cruces community. She volunteered with the Red Cross, including a leadership role on a project to bring “talking books”—literature on vinyl records—to homebound patients across the city. She was also a member and officer of the University Park Women’s Golf Association, serving as president in 1970 and frequently appearing in the Las Cruces Sun News for first place rankings in local golf tournaments.
Founded in 2014 with their first living trust gift distribution and extended through more estate gifts this year, the Buck and Evelyn Waid Endowed Academic Scholarship helps undergraduate students across colleges pursue their degree at NMSU. Any student with a declared major and a 3.0 GPA is eligible, and some of the recent recipients include students studying engineering, education and agriculture, like Waid Scholar Ryan Salcido.
The legacy of philanthropy started by Buck and Evelyn continues to extend, like tree roots, through the NMSU community and beyond. The impact of their giving has taken wonderful twists and turns and is sure to continue to grow as the students they support graduate and give their own service, leadership and philanthropy back to the communities they love.
You, like Buck and Evelyn, can create a legacy at NMSU by becoming a member of The 1888 Society. Contact Steven Covington at (575) 646-3190 or (800) 342-6678 or plannedgiving@nmsufoundation.org to learn more.