Lobo Couple Pays It Forward with Estate Gift

Alumni couple Larry and Kathy Hancock met at UNM while participating in their respective dorm homecoming committees in 1968. During homecoming the main display caught fire, as did their love for each other. They were dating by Halloween, engaged by Thanksgiving, and married in Chicago in 1970 over a quick weekend trip—they were both student teachers and were expected back in class the following Monday.

Larry and Kathy remember their years at UNM with great fondness and shared that their education gave them a broader view of the world and cultural experiences they would not have found elsewhere. Larry stated “UNM is very unique in the breadth of its diversity.” Larry graduated with honors in 1970 with a triple major in history, cultural anthropology and education. Kathy graduated with a BS in secondary education and joined their honor society—Kappa Omicron Phi, Pi Chapter.

When the Hancocks thought about estate planning, they knew they wanted to give back. They worked with their lawyer, CPA, and the UNM Foundation Planned Giving Office to create a plan that made sense for them. They are keeping their 125-year-old, 500-acre Oklahoma homestead where Larry grew up in the family, while donating investments, securities, and cash to UNM.

The Hancocks’ estate gift will come to UNM through a provision in their will and several beneficiary designations. Their gift will establish the Kathy and Larry Hancock Endowment for Zimmerman Library Historic Preservation. They spent many days within the walls of Zimmerman and knew part of their gift would support its historical upkeep.

Their gift will also support the Kathy and Larry Hancock Endowment for Health Extension Research Outreach (HERO). The couple lived all over the world before moving to Larry’s rural hometown of Mountain View, Oklahoma. From there, they saw firsthand the health care challenges of rural areas. HERO links UNM’s Health Sciences Center programs and resources to rural and community partners in underserved communities throughout New Mexico. The Hancocks feel blessed to be part of HERO.

After graduation, Larry joined the Air Force, worked in technical education in the telecommunications industry as a human resource consultant, and ultimately went on to a career in technology marketing. He also embraced his passion for history, research, and writing and has published books about the political climate of the ‘60s and ‘70s and national security. Meanwhile, Kathy has devoted her life to education, tutoring and teaching adult education. She served as librarian of the Addie David Memorial Library and continues to serve on its board.

Larry and Kathy give their time and hearts to the town of Mountain View through Larry’s service on the school board and their joint service on the local Farm Bureau, Fair Board, and their church. Although they love their home in Oklahoma, they have never forgotten the place that brought them together.

Larry stated, “you really need to give some thought in investing in what made you who you are, and asking yourself would you be the same person if you hadn’t been a part of UNM? We all need to pay it forward.”