Samuel L. Stedman, 1915-1961
Born in 1915, in Sedalia, Missouri to a family of Jewish immigrants from Poland, Sam Silverman entered Central College in 1931, when he was 16 years old. Silverman graduated from Central College in 1935 "with High Honors," majoring in Economics. Silverman was known by his birth name while at Central; he would change his name to "Samuel Lee Stedman" some time after his graduation. Stedman's brother, Abe Silverman, and his sister, Ruby Silverman (later Ruby Junsberg), were also graduates of Central, in 1937 and 1941, respectively.
During his time at Central, Silverman was, among other things, secretary-treasurers of Phi Rho Kappa (popularly known as "the Philosophy Club" and sponsored by Religion faculty member B.E. Meland) and Sigma Epsilon Pi (for Honors students), and was the Secretary of the Junior class of 1934. He was also a writer for the Collegian, a member of the Central College Players, the History Club, the Scribblers and president of a student-run group, the Young Capitalists, Inc. After Central, Silverman went on to Harvard University, where he graduated with an M.B.A. in 1937. He also received a law degree from the City College of New York in 1940, via attending night classes.
When World War II began, Silverman enlisted in the Army. Upon returning home at the war's end, he took a position at investment firm J.S. Bache and Co. Later, he transferred to firm Carl M. Loeb, Rhoades and Co., where he became partner in 1952.
In 1959, Stedman (as he was known by then) joined Central's Board of Curators. Prior to his election to the board, he was among Central's largest donors, and provided an annuity for his old advisor and Economics professor, Dean E.P. Puckett, to retire.
Sadly, Samuel Stedman died of stomach cancer in 1961, a few weeks short of his 46th birthday. In the year before his death, he had been arranging a $1 million donation (roughly $8 million today) to construct the building that now bears his name. His original request was that the building be named "Curators' Hall of Science," but upon his death, his widow, Gerda, and the Board of Curators chose to name it specifically after Stedman himself.
References:
- “Dr. Sam Stedman Rites Wednesday.” Periodical title unknown. Date unknown. ARC 15 04 04 Board of Curators file Stedman, Samuel L. Central Methodist University Archives, Smiley Memorial Library, Central Methodist University, Fayette, MO. 29 June 2017.
- “His Gratitude to a College: One-Time Top Student at Central Methodist, Fayette, Mo., Is Benefactor.” [Kansas City Star], [31 March 1963] , p. 1A, 2A. ARC 15 04 04 Board of Curators file Stedman, Samuel L. Central Methodist University Archives, Smiley Memorial Library, Central Methodist University, Fayette, MO. 29 June 2017.
- Silverman, Sam. 1931-1935. CMU OUTS Sh-Si, Registrar’s Office, Central Methodist University, Fayette, MO. 29 June 2017.
- Woodward, Ralph L. Letter to Central College Board of Curators. 24 June 1961. ARC 15 04 04 Board of Curators file Stedman, Samuel L. Central Methodist University Archives, Smiley Memorial Library, Central Methodist University, Fayette, MO. 29 June 2017.
- Woodward, Ralph L. Letter to Dr. Sam Stedman. 27 June 1961. ARC 15 04 04 Board of Curators file Stedman, Samuel L. Central Methodist University Archives, Smiley Memorial Library, Central Methodist University, Fayette, MO. 29 June 2017.
- Woodward, Ralph L. Letter to Central College Board of Curators. 4 September 1961. ARC 15 04 04 Board of Curators file Stedman, Samuel L. Central Methodist University Archives, Smiley Memorial Library, Central Methodist University, Fayette, MO. 29 June 2017.