theordquiz.com

By Kate Wolf
   On Sept. 21, 2024, Ted Randolph passed away at the age of 96 and the world is greatly diminished with his passing. He will be truly missed. Older residents may remember Randolph from his years as an Ord High School (OHS) student athlete who graduated in 1945 and was inducted into the OHS Athletic Hall of Fame. Others might recall he went on to serve his country with honor in the military from 1946-1948, rising to the rank of Sergeant and went on to graduate from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He remained a life-long Husker fan. Still others may have heard how he went on to marry his high school sweetheart, Burdette (Pecha) Randolph, raised a family and enjoyed great success in his career. 
   But more contemporary Ord residents will remember Ted Randolph as the very generous philanthropist who recently donated $100,000 toward the John and Alyce Wozab Memorial Gazebo, now completed and proudly standing on the southwest corner of the Valley County Courthouse lawn. No tax dollars were utilized in this effort. He was the largest single contributor to the project and quite literally made it happen much sooner than anyone anticipated. A dedication ceremony is planned for the completed gazebo on Mon., Oct. 21 from 4-6 p.m. with the dedication itself occurring at 5 p.m.
   But there is more to the story that has remained under the radar and not yet divulged to the public….until now. In January of 2024, Randolph and his family donated an additional $100,000 to establish the Theodore Randolph Endowment to especially benefit the youth of Valley County. His cherished memories of growing up in our community, attending school here and maintaining lifelong friendships inspired this remarkable man to donate even MORE!
   The Gazebo donation proved to be a very special Christmas “miracle” for everyone who worked so hard on fundraising efforts, especially the Gazebo Committee which includes Helen Cullers, Galen Dulitz, Steffan Baker, Danny Vanek, and Pat and Kathy Waldman. But the second $100,000 he so generously donated is a priceless gift that will continue giving back to the youth of our area for generations to come, thanks to the wise management of the Valley County Community Foundation Fund.
   Theodore “Ted” Randolph was born in Lincoln, NE, Jan. 3, 1928, to Florence Baldwin Ohler Randolph and Roy Fred Randolph. The family moved many times during the Depression years due to his father’s career as a construction engineer. By 1937 they had found a home in Ord where they lived until Ted graduated from OHS in 1945. It was during this time that he developed his personal love for our area, came to recognize and value our unmatched sense of “community,” as well as gaining a deep respect for the people who lived and worked here.
   Randolph gave freely of himself throughout his long life. He served as a Scout leader, a volunteer teacher of under-privileged children, a coach, as well as being a dynamic force within his Presbyterian Church. He was a visionary in his career in the printing industry becoming a driving force at Fleming Printing Company in St. Louis, MO from 1966 until his retirement in 1993. Under his skillful management, the company grew from a modest business into a $20 million dollar industry leader.
   Randolph was preceded in death by his daughter, Kathryn Randolph in 1972, his beloved first wife, Burdette (Pecha) Randolph in 2005, as well as his second wife, Donna Jepson, in 2017. He is survived by his loving children: Daughter, Margaret (Randolph) Reim; sons, James and Robert Randolph; as well as his brother, Charles Bernard Randolph.
   He is also survived by the grateful citizens of Valley County who recognize his incredible generosity, his continued dedication to the success of the Ord community, his devotion to local youth opportunities and the lasting legacy Ted Randolph has left behind. He never forgot his roots.
   A celebration of his life will be held by his family at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Missouri Historical Society at mohistory.org/support or a charity of your choice in his name, honoring his generosity of spirit, commitment to helping others, and the fond memories of growing up in Ord that Ted Randolph continued to cherish throughout his life.
   He gave so much, without being asked, and with no expectation of financial gain or recognition….merely the desire to help where he could. There is a lesson in that for all of us. We can also provide opportunity and a better quality of life by leaving an endowment to be managed by the Valley County Community Foundation Fund and thus leave a lasting legacy of our own.