Bunces make major gift to Monmouth College

Trustee Peter Bunce

May 3, 2001 

Peter and Gail Bunce of St. Louis, Mo., have made a gift of $1.15 million to Monmouth College, according to president Richard Giese.

“Thirty years ago, Peter joined our board of trustees and he has been instrumental in the development of Monmouth College ever since,” said Giese. “Although neither of them graduated from Monmouth, Peter and Gail have been constant sources of support and energy over the past 30 years. We’re delighted that the college remains one of a handful of organizations to which they donate their time and resources. Peter’s a man of absolute integrity, perseverance and humility, and we’re proud to have him and Gail as a part of our Monmouth College family.”

Bunce has maintained a keen interest in the institution since being drawn to Monmouth in 1971 through a mutual friend of former president Richard Stine.

“Of all the extracurricular-type activities that I’m involved in, serving Monmouth College has been the most rewarding to me, partly because of all the wonderful changes I’ve seen happen over the past 30 years,” said Bunce, who is a passionate advocate of the liberal arts education.

“The experience that we want Monmouth College students to have helps them establish and understand their own values and set of ethics,” he continued. “It instills in them the excitement of learning and teaches them ongoing skills of living that will serve them forever.”

Bunce’s own adherence to a personal set of high standards has served him well throughout his life, as he graduated with honors from Princeton, started and grew a leading construction company and raised a successful family, all the while supporting a number of worthy causes.

After devoting nine years as chair of the MC board of trustees, Bunce has not shied away from heading major projects at Monmouth. He served as national chair of a fundraising drive from 1983-86 that brought more money to the college ($15 million) than all previous drives combined. The goal was reached a year ahead of schedule. He has also given attention to details, such as sending many talented students from the St. Louis area to Monmouth.

A passage from a letter nominating him for the Horatio Alger Award in 1987 neatly describes what Bunce has meant to Monmouth College: “Peter Bunce is the sort of volunteer that colleges dream about … He lives a life of action rather than idle contemplation. Peter acts out his beliefs in selfless service.”

The Bunces’ donation consists of an estate gift and cash.