For nearly 82 years, Jeannette Terrell Nichols’ journeys have taken her all over the world, but her fondest memories and passions lie within walking distance of her home on Kansas City’s Country Club Plaza.

To the north, Nichols peers out over the Plaza, an internationally acclaimed shopping district designed by her father-in-law, J.C. Nichols, in 1922, and expanded by her late husband, Miller Nichols. Walking south a few blocks, her mind fills with faces, names and memories of childhood.

Just a few blocks eastward lies UMKC, which she has touched in many ways. Though she didn’t attend UMKC and rarely set foot on campus until later in life, she has taken the institution under her wing and helped strengthen its reputation, programs and fundraising efforts.

In recognition of her commitment, UMKC will award Nichols the Chancellor’s Medal, UMKC’s highest non-academic honor bestowed upon a member of the community, during Commencement May 5.

Never too late
Thirty years ago, Jeannette Terrell Deweese couldn’t have envisioned receiving one of UMKC’s highest awards. But she hadn’t yet joined forces with one of the University’s staunchest supporters, Miller Nichols.

In the late 1970s, after both had lost their spouses, Jeannette and Miller frequently were invited to dinner parties where they were often seated next to each other. Some dinners and conversations later, their friendship grew and in 1979, they were married.

It wasn’t long before Miller turned his wife onto his passion for UMKC, where he served as a trustee and himself was honored with the Chancellor’s Medal in 1970. Miller believed that a strong UMKC would create a stronger community, and he committed millions of dollars and thousands
of hours to ensure its success.

“My real acquaintance with UMKC came from Miller,”she says. “That was a passion of his. He felt you couldn’t have a dynamic city without a strong university. This University didn’t have the local support that some urban communities gave, because much of the population went to KU or MU.”

Once her husband sold her on UMKC, she and Miller saw to it to change the level of local interest. In public conversations, they tied Kansas City’s success with that of UMKC’s. They also provided substantial monetary support to show their seriousness about the cause. When Miller died in 2000,
Jeannette continued the commitment to UMKC’s growth by serving as honorary co-chair of UMKC’s $200 million capital campaign and working with UMKC to enhance and expand the Miller Nichols Library.

Community roots
Jeannette Nichols’ support for UMKC took flight in the 1970s, but the foundation was being set years ago.

Her great-grandfather, James R. Paar, settled the area and served as the first mayor of the territorial community of Wyandotte – the precursor to Kansas City, Kan. Her grandparents and parents were lifelong residents of the Kansas City area, and they instilled in Nichols a sense of community pride and commitment.

As a teenager, in 1938-39, she, her mother and sister traveled through pre-war Europe, just ahead of invading armies. When conditions worsened, she eagerly returned to the security of Kansas City, where she attended Sunset Hill (now Pembroke Hill) High School.

For college, she chose Vassar in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. After graduation, she went home to the Midwest, received a master’s degree in economics from the University of Kansas, and researched the economic history of Kansas City for the Federal Reserve Bank. She then returned to New York where she worked on the editorial staff of Fortune magazine. After marrying a Kansas Citian in New York, she returned home for good.

“As soon as I got home, I joined the Junior League,” says Nichols. She volunteered for numerous children’s projects. Over time, her community involvement has grown into more than a full-time job, with volunteer positions in many area arts and philanthropic organizations.

With regular workouts and a full schedule of community board meetings and projects, it doesn’t appear she has plans to slow down. And for that, Kansas City and UMKC are fortunate.

—Rick Mann