When it came time for Chris Reynolds to select a university to attend in 1981, he had only one in mind—Jacksonville State University. For him, it was like home.
"Earning a good education was important to my parents. My father worked in a cotton mill during the day and attended JSU at night. He started in 1957, and it took him until 1971 to earn his accounting degree," Chris says.
"Then, when my sister was born in 1974, mother decided it was her turn to earn a degree. She enrolled at JSU and graduated in education in 1981," he says.
At JSU, Chris majored in music and performed with the Marching Southerners for two years. Scholarships helped pay the bills. A full-tuition scholarship named for coach Don Salls, and a half scholarship from the Southerners, allowed him to graduate on time and with no debt.
In 1985, he graduated with a bachelor's degree in music and in business management. He currently serves as vice president and investment officer at Wells Fargo Advisors in Gadsden. Chris is also a certified financial planner.
Another defining moment happened at the University when Chris met his future wife, Sharon. "You never know who you will meet at Mason Beach," he says.
The JSU family story doesn't end there. His daughter-in-law, Kendall, is a JSU education graduate. His son, Jordan, is transferring to JSU in the fall and plans to major in nursing. Altogether, there will be 10 JSU degrees within the immediate family once Jordan graduates. When planning his own financial future, Chris remembers that total strangers made it possible for him to pay for his education through scholarships. "I felt an obligation to pass it on, to give back. Someone helped me and now it's my turn," he says.
"I created a trust, and upon my death everything goes into the trust, including the proceeds from various insurance policies. It will benefit my wife and children for a specified time and then a portion of the trust will go to the University. The gift will be unrestricted so that the University can use the funds wherever they are needed most," he says.
Like Chris, you can give future students at JSU the opportunity to achieve their educational goals. To learn more about your giving options, contact Kim Dalesandro '98/'18 at 256-782-5606 or kdalesandro@jsu.edu.