FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Historic preservationists Ted and Leslie Belden of Fayetteville have made a gift of $100,000 to the University of Arkansas School of Architecture. 

The Beldens are UA alumni and members of the Campaign for the Twenty-First Century School of Architecture Committee. They met while undergraduate students in the School of Architecture.

Their gift will be used to create an endowment, which will be directed at the dean’s discretion to propel the program forward.

"We are so pleased that Ted and Leslie Belden have stepped forward to offer their time and resources to their alma mater," said School of Architecture Dean Jeff Shannon. "Their leadership and participation on our Campaign Committee have been exemplary and we are grateful for this generous gift. They view the School of Architecture as a valuable resource to Arkansas at large and through this gift are asserting their belief in the University’s vision as a nationally competitive, student-centered research university serving Arkansas and the world. "

Ted Belden is a School of Architecture graduate and a co-owner of Lomanco, the world's largest manufacturer of residential ventilation equipment. Ted also owns the Foxwood Golf Club in Jacksonville, Ark., and Rushing and Mason, a distributor of large-scale earth-moving equipment. As a student, Ted was a member of Tau Sigma Delta, and is currently an elder in the Presbyterian Church, a member of Rotary and actively involved with the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce. He serves the Presbyterian Church through the boards of the Montreat Camp and Conference Center, the Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center, and Presbyterian Village in Little Rock. If the Presbyterian church has a building project in progress Ted generally chairs or serves on it, overseeing projects at the local churches in Fayetteville and Jacksonville, at Ferncliff and at Presbyterian Village.

UA Chancellor John A. White said, "Ted and Leslie Belden truly make a difference, for Fayetteville, for Northwest Arkansas, for Arkansas and for the University of Arkansas. We are most fortunate to be able to count them both among our active and supportive alumni. Their gift to the School of Architecture will go a long way to ensure that there are funds available to meet immediate needs within the School."

Leslie Belden is also a School of Architecture graduate and a 1994 master’s of divinity graduate of the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. As an undergraduate at the U of A, she was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, Mortar Board, Cardinal Key, Zeta Tau Alpha historian, Lambda Chi little sister, Tau Sigma Delta secretary, Angel Flight commander and featured in Who’s Who. She was associate pastor of First United Presbyterian Church in Fayetteville and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in public policy at the U of A. She is a member of the League of Women Voters, the School of Architecture’s Board of Advisors and the Presbytery of Arkansas.

Leslie Belden said, "Although we are graduates of the School of Architecture and continue to be involved in many aspects of the School, neither of us works in the field. We are historic preservations and strong advocates for good design. It’s very important to both of us that that the University be supported financially because quality higher education is crucial to the state of Arkansas. Arkansas has struggled economically because of lack of community support. Our heart is at the University of Arkansas, and particularly in the School of Architecture."

The Beldens met as undergraduate students when then-Dean Murray Smart took a group of students to Italy. "Since Ted and I met at the School of Architecture, it’s only right that we continue to thank the School," Leslie said.

"We’ve been blessed. We are people of strong faith and believe that those who are blessed are called to be a blessing. Sometimes it’s time you give, and other times it’s money."

Leslie Belden says that her connection to the School of Architecture was another contributing factor to making this gift and that their familiarity with UA architecture programs has given the Beldens a better understanding of the School’s needs. She said that they are particularly excited about the potential of the University of Arkansas Community Design Center (UACDC) for the ways it is helping to revitalize communities in the Delta region of Arkansas.

Her message for other prospective donors considering supporting the University of Arkansas would be for them to talk about it with their spouse and to think about what’s important to them.

"The state of Arkansas, the University of Arkansas and the School of Architecture are important to us," she said. "If those things are important to others, then now might be the time to consider making a gift to our Campaign for the Twenty-First Century. If we don’t push and give more than might be comfortable, then I’m worried that the whole state may suffer. The U of A has an important role to play in the state and we’ve got to keep our students here by making sure that Arkansas has the best opportunities."

The Beldens have two daughters, Melissa, a UA student, and Mary.

— 30 —