When Dudley Godfrey and fellow members of the Class of 1952 decided to establish the John Reed Scholarship Fund, they hoped it would grow to $1 million. Thanks in part to Godfrey’s generosity through his estate, the value of the fund now exceeds $1.2 million.
Godfrey was a loyal donor to the scholarship fund and the Law School Fund. After his death in 2007, his wife, Constance Godfrey, continued making yearly gifts. When Constance died in 2014, the John Reed Scholarship Fund received nearly $487,000 through a charitable remainder trust the couple had established.
“It’s exciting to see how the scholarship has grown, especially now with the Godfrey gift,” says Reed, the Thomas M. Cooley Professor of Law Emeritus. “Because the members of the 1952 class and I arrived at the Law School together in the fall of 1949, I’ve always felt we had a special relationship. I am deeply grateful for their affection and generosity.”
The movement to endow the scholarship was born from the class’s 45th reunion in 1997. “What better way could there be to honor a man who remains a favorite of students and faculty alike?” wrote the reunion committee, of which Dudley Godfrey was a member, in an appeal to classmates. They surprised Reed by announcing the fund during their class dinner. Since then, multiple gifts from many members of the class have grown the fund.
Dudley Godfrey was a partner in the Milwaukee law firm of Godfrey & Kahn, which he cofounded in 1957. He was an aficionado of American decorative arts and a strong supporter of many charitable organizations. He and Constance were married for 55 years.
