F.E. and Martelia Gardner lived in Abilene from 1925-1928 and fell in love with Abilene Christian University. The Gardners became involved with ACU and were two of the university's most generous benefactors, giving ACU over $1 million. When asked why they had been so generous to ACU F.E. said "The Lord gave it to me, and I’m just giving it back."
Their first gift to the university came in 1953 when they established the Martelia Gardner Scholarships, which provided about $900 each year to preaching students. In 1957, they presented the university a 440-acre farm in Navarro County valued at more than $100,000.
In the fall of 1960, they deeded the university 5,395 acres of land in Andrews County with more than 100 producing oil wells. The land was deeded outright to the university and oil revenues from the land ran at approximately $65,000 per year. This gift prompted university officials to begin construction of a new women’s dormitory and the million-dollar structure was named in honor of the Gardners.
F.E. Gardner began his business by purchasing a farm near Bryan, Texas, in 1904. He kept it for two years then sold it for profit and began his career as a salesman and investor. During his career he sold everything from ironing boards to tires, and he represented a number of oil companies. From 1819 to 1924 he operated as an independent oil man and sold an estimated 75 to 100 farms during his lifetime.
The Gardners were married Oct. 16, 1912, and moved to Cleburne in 1913 where the continued to reside for the rest of their lives except for the four years they spent in Abilene.
F. E. Gardner died June 1, 1963, and Martelita died June 4, 1964. At the time of his death, half of F.E. Garnder’s estate came to ACU amounting to $464,890.
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