Rosemary and Harry L. Crisp II
Harry L. Crisp II and the late Rosemary Berkel Crisp, devoted supporters of Murray State University and the surrounding communities, through their generous gifts have funded the Rosemary and Harry L. Crisp II Soccer Complex at MSU. A ground breaking ceremony was held Aug. 21, 2007 in the Cutchin Field area, next to the Curris Center. The new facility will house women's soccer locker rooms, men's and women's tennis locker rooms, public restrooms and a concession area.
"We are so grateful to Rosemary and Harry Crisp for their longstanding support of the university and our students," said MSU President Randy Dunn. "This generous gift will create a place that supports our student athletes and those in the community and the region who use these facilities."
Rosemary, a Chicago native, was a 1958 graduate of St. Mary's School of Nursing in Evansville, Ind., and a 1981 graduate of John Robert Powers Model and Finishing School in St. Louis. In 1958 she began her career as a nurse. She was a member of the American Nurses Association and numerous boards, including the Eastern Illinois University, Southeast Missouri State University, John A. Logan College and the Marion Civic Center foundations, the University of Tennessee Women's Philanthropy Alliance, the Marion Memorial Hospital Auxiliary Board and the Shagbark Girl Scout Council. An avid community volunteer, she was a member and past president of the Theta Tau sorority and the Sigma Theta Tau International Development Advisory Council. Her many honors included an honorary 2006 graduate of Culver Girls Academy and the 2001 Greater Marion Area Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year Award. In 1997, she was the inaugural recipient of the Rosemary Berkel Crisp Award given annually to southern Illinois women for outstanding leadership and philanthropy from the directors of Women for Health and Wellness. She was a published writer and co-owner of Pepsi MidAmerica and Crisp Container with her husband Harry.
Harry, a native of Carbondale, Ill., serves as Chairman of the Board for Pepsi MidAmerica and Chairman Emeritus of the Board for The Bank of Marion. A 1953 graduate of Culver (Ind.) Military Academy, he attended Southern Illinois University and served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1956 to 1958. He serves on the foundation boards of Murray State University and Eastern Illinois University, and is a member of the Southeast Missouri State University College of Business advisory council and a charter member of the Paducah Junior College development council. His many honors include Bottler of the Year by Beverage World Magazine and Graduate of the Year Award from Culver Military Academy in 2006, an honorary doctorate of law from Murray State University, an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Millikin University and an honorary associate of science degree from Prairie State College. His memberships include the executive board of the St. Louis Regional Council Boy Scouts, the Williamson County (Ill.) Shriners, S.I. EDGE, the Marion Rotary Club and the Shawnee Division Marine Corps League.
Harry and Rosemary were married for 47 years and the proud parents of Cynthia, Catherine, Cheryl, Carole, Harry Lee III and Cara. They have 17 grandchildren and one great grandchild.
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