One of the most surprising things about the $8.5 million gift to Wichita State University announced this week — the second-largest ever — is who gave it: Paul and Evelyn Cassat, an unassuming couple who never made more than $6 an hour in their lives.
But they were thrifty and believed in savings and smart investments — and over the years, it added up. And then some.
The Cassats were the fabled “millionaires next door†— solid, hardworking, traditional values people who quietly amassed a fortune and then gave back most of it, seeking to leave the world a little better place than they found it. Because of their integrity and selflessness, several WSU health clinics and programs will be better equipped to change lives.
Many Americans these days want to get rich quick — and spend it just as fast. But the Cassats showed the power of steady savings over time. Even better, they used their fortune to help others.
41 Comments
Sounds like they never benefited from their accumulation.
In the story about these folks, the wife would cut out thin cardboard to put in her shoes when her shoe leather was getting thin. This from a lady who had millions of dollars at her disposal. It was an amazing story.
Giving IS the best way to benefit! Nothing brings happiness the way giving unselfishly to others does. I’ve never met a selfish person who was happy.
Good for them!
It’s nice their money went for something good.
But to be honest,these people sound kinda nuts.
Randy, your comments were fine as they went, except for the statement “Many Americans these days want to get rich quick — and spend it just as fast”. Hey ever hear about the lottery and have you ever brought a ticket,( I have). You news media people can always fine a way to take something apart and knock it down.
Giving always gives back tenfold, and it doesn’t need to be money — time, an ear, a strong back, a hug can be given and enrich the recipient and giver alike.
“Hey ever hear about the lottery and have you ever brought a ticket,( I have).”
Yes, and no. The lottery is exactly an example of the problem – state sponsored scamming if it’s own citizens by waving the promise of instant riches. These folks did what almost anyone CAN do, if they want to bad enough.
The lottery is a tax on the stupid. By all means, George, feel free to step right up.
I have no doubt their gift brought them great pleasure, and good for them.
“unassuming couple who never made more than $6 an hour in their lives.”
Lyrics adapted from the Grinch, by the famous writer American Way:
And the liberal, with his liberal-feet ice-cold in the snow, Stood puzzling and puzzling: “How could it be so?” “They saved with out handouts! It came without food stamps!” “It came without packages, boxes or bags!” And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore. Then the liberal thought of something he hadn’t before! “Maybe Wealth,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a government. “Maybe wealth..perhaps..means
a little bit more!”
But the liberals down in liberal-ville all cry Boo-Hoo!”
“Giving always gives back tenfold”
They are dead Linda.
What, no welfare to lift them up? They did it on their own? They Invested and Saved in the Stock & Bond Market raking profits from those Eeeevil Corporations!
How many of you Libs line your old $120 Nikes with carboard from cereal boxes?
“Rhatigan said Evelyn Cassat appeared to be the one with investment skills.
She invested carefully and wisely, balancing stocks, bonds, mutual funds and U.S. Treasury instruments. She even made overnight loans to banks, pointing out that she gained a quarter-percent interest on those loans, he said.
The Cassats were intensely frugal. Rhatigan said that in preparing their home for auction, he came across stacks of empty cereal boxes. A health care worker told him that Evelyn Cassat used the boxes to line her shoes when the soles wore thin to make the shoes last longer.”
george
Posted May 7, 2008 at 8:14 am | Permalink
Randy, your comments were fine as they went, except for the statement “Many Americans these days want to get rich quick — and spend it just as fast”. Hey ever hear about the lottery and have you ever brought a ticket,( I have). You news media people can always fine a way to take something apart and knock it down.
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There’s always the Easy Way out for Libs. Just push that Easy Button – Get some Government help – Play the L o t t e r y ! Yeah, that’s how you get ahead – GAMBLE! You don’t have to work and save and sacrifice to get ahead!
George – Another critic of successful hardworking Americans. Just like Capn, putting down Regular’s grandfather for working hard and paying his own way through life.
Seems to be a theme of Liberals – Putting down hard-working Americans for being successful.
Don’t ya know the Government OWES us? Working hard and paying your own way in life gives Liberals a bad reputation! Stop it!
AmWay, maybe that should be Boohooville?
Now we know where the Libs come from.
American Way, they gave a lot after their deaths and made those arrangements before they died, thus enjoyed that knowledge. I also think they gave during their lives. You may think differently. Giving always gives back tenfold.
O.K. Linda,
So they got back 80.5 million dollars on their investment.
Thanks!
How many of you went into the voting booth with the Cassats and can guarantee they voted Republican?
“guarantee they voted Republican”
Is the next question, going to be what is their religion?
I don’t think money is the only thing of value in life. I have been given what is more valuable than any amount of money and I hope to always remember what is and isn’t important.
I think George has only brought 2 lottery tickets in his whole life. I consider myself a hard working American just like anyone else. I have investments, but I was not frugal enough to make millions. I’m glad to see the Cassats had enough left over to give back to the education of other’s. I do not want to hear from the politicians, can I help you. I still take exception with Randy’s statement about many Americans wanting to get rich quick and spend it even faster. Take a look at the movie stars and major sports figures wanting to get rich. Keep on spending people and maybe some of it will trinkle down to somebody else.
The easiest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket. : )
Sad, reminds me of Silas Marner.
Yeah, I get the point about being frugal and savings, yada yada yada. If you can save money, it’s a good idea.
But the simple fact is that they didn’t get rich by saving. Not on $6 an hour–not even in 1950 dollars. They did it with shrewd investments. And I give them credit for that.
But Randy’s summary seems to imply that your can save your way to wealth on a menial income, which is asinine.
But Randy’s summary seems to imply that your can save your way to wealth on a menial income, which is asinine.
How ELSE would you gain wealth? I suppose the government could give it to you, by taking it from those who did follow the asinine real way.
Savings is different from investing. But all lead to wealth building.
AmWay – This is a classic!
“Lyrics adapted from the Grinch, by the famous writer American Way:
And the liberal, with his liberal-feet ice-cold in the snow, Stood puzzling and puzzling: “How could it be so?” “They saved with out handouts! It came without food stamps!” “It came without packages, boxes or bags!” And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore. Then the liberal thought of something he hadn’t before! “Maybe Wealth,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a government. “Maybe wealth..perhaps..means
a little bit more!”
But the liberals down in liberal-ville all cry Boo-Hoo!”
How ELSE would you gain wealth?
A good job, and shrewd investments. Or a really good job, and fair investments. But most wealth is simply inherited.
I suppose the government could give it to you, by taking it from those who did follow the asinine real way.
Yes, I’ve heard the story of Robin Hood, too. But we’re talking about America, and reality.
P.S. You can also produce or invent something people really, really, want.
Aren’t WSU clinics discounted on a sliding scale system, or otherwise subsidized?
I just love the hypocrisy of these Republicans that rant and rave about the liberals wanting handouts from the government while I have known several Republicans who would throw their own Momma to the wolves for their tax breaks, subsidies, corporate welfare and any other government program they would qualify for.
One man’s government handout is another man’s entitlement. It just depends on what side of the fence you are on.
For most people the only way to obtain any measure of wealth is to spend less than you make and save and invest the difference with discipline.
I know a family that never made more than strictly a middle class income combined, yet have a paid for house, two kids through college with Masters Degrees and assets over 1M. Maybe not a lot in todays dollars but better than relying on the government for your existence.
Anyone who depends on the government for their existance will always live in poverty. If you make any money while on government assistance, you have to pay back the money they gave you. You’re not allowed to have more than 2,000 in the bank.
Many of my patients live on less than $800 a month..which they can do if they’re willing to live without what we consider essentials, like a house or a car.
Like I’ve said before, many of my friends are pretty liberal, and most of them are educated, have good jobs, and money to spend on sending their kids to college, etc. I don’t get this stereotype that the cons on this blog love to throw out that “liberals” don’t want to work or they expect the government to do it for them somehow.
My liberal friends and I believe that government entitlements are for those who CAN’T do it for themselves…like children with poor parents or the physically or mentally disabled.
Max, Box, Am Way, Nathan, and all the others, your generalizations and stereotypes are stupid and way off base.
lucee
Posted May 7, 2008 at 8:09 pm | Permalink
I just love the hypocrisy of these Republicans that rant and rave about the liberals wanting handouts from the government while I have known several Republicans who would throw their own Momma to the wolves for their tax breaks, subsidies, corporate welfare and any other government program they would qualify for.
One man’s government handout is another man’s entitlement. It just depends on what side of the fence you are on.
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The Liberal “Entitlement” mentality is a creature of the 20th Century.
Never before in history was anyone born with the World owing them anything, not even a dime. Today, people are raised in Publik Educkation to believe that people are “ENTITLED” to every need.
Entitlements, you are owed something just because you were born.
Well, you Takers out there, when are you gonna start Giving to the next generation being born – you know, the generation that is now entitled to what YOU make?
I’d say that everyone today believes in entitlements, Max. You expect to drive on good roads, drink clean water, have police and fire protection. I’ll bet you believe that you have the right to free public education, libraries, etc. for your kids.
I’ll even bet that you’ll run out and spend that government rebate check in the mail that has your name on it.
Now that I think about it, it’s my liberal friends and relatives that are more giving of their time and money. They’re the ones who volunteer and go out of their way to help others.
Right wing conservatives are too busy, blaming sin for natural disasters, bitching about how liberals and homosexuals are ruining the country, trying to close the separation of church and state, trying to make laws that mandate Christian ideology, all while they wave the flag and cheer as Iraqis die.
Funny, the things Mary counts as Entitlements – Roads, Water, Police & Fire Protection, Libraries, are the very things at the core Role of Government which benefit EVERYONE.
The entitlements you truly want Mary, are the income tax redistributions of wealth to make sure everyone has equal income regardless of what they earn or don’t earn.
Fess up and just be honest. You want to steal from those who have more then you do – and you call this getting your “Entitlements”.
You are a thief.
“My liberal friends and I believe that government entitlements are for those who CAN’T do it for themselves…like children with poor parents or the physically or mentally disabled.
Max, Box, Am Way, Nathan, and all the others, your generalizations and stereotypes are stupid and way off base.”
Mary, for those that are truly needy…fine, but there are thousands scamming the system, those are the one’s, along with the system that allows it, that I resent.
There’s a huge difference between government programs that benefit everyone vs those that benefit a few, at the expense of everyone else.
You Socialists, may win a few battles, but the country will be destroyed if you win your war. Then everyone loses.
If everyone works, supports themselves, then we all win. The Socialists are too lazy to do that, so just take from others. Stealing, one of the first crimes of humankind, continues in disguise as Socialism.
Thieves.
And the Socialists MUST disarm America, in order for the thieves to steal everything they want.
Max….very good!!!
Boxlock
Posted May 7, 2008 at 9:31 pm | Permalink
Mary, for those that are truly needy…fine, but there are thousands scamming the system, those are the one’s, along with the system that allows it, that I resent.
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Including those who refuse to take a college course or two, graduate, get their sheepskin, look around and move to wherever the best job opportunities are for them to be successful.
Instead of taking responsiblity for themselves, they piss and moan and scam the system, crying “poor me, poor me” holding their hands out for others to support them – because they refuse to support themselves even though they are fully capable of doing so.
Thieves.
Question, did these people have any children? Cuz I guarantee, if she sent kids to school with cardboard on their feet, they’d had SRS called on them. And yeah, you can do a LOT of saving with no kids.
And how much was 6$ an hour back in the 40’s?
You show me one republican that has acted this frugally. I don’t think so.
American_Way
Posted May 7, 2008 at 9:17 am | Permalink
“unassuming couple who never made more than $6 an hour in their lives.”
Lyrics adapted from the Grinch, by the famous writer American Way:
And the liberal…
usual group of self admiring small thinking bush lovers who don’t mind 4 dollar gas, or 4,000+ american kids killed in iraq as long as bush mentally strokes their little egos.
Amazing how these ideologues continue to associate a $2 trillion budget with “giving money away.” As if that’s ever been even a significant minority of the federal budget. Hell, as if government even does that at all–even the meager amounts doled out for Temporary Assistance to Families have serious strings attached–it’s not “free” (it used to be called “Aid For Dependent Children,” but it seems the Republican Congress wanted to take the word “children” out of the title).
Take a good look at the federal budget, folks, and then tell me–with a presumably straight face–that it’s somehow a glorified Federal Free Money Agency. Or that anyone is advocating making it so.
How long can you keep beating up that strawman before you run out of straw?