Investing in the minds that shape our skyline

In 2002, the City of Cincinnati began the demolition of the 32-year-old Riverfront Stadium. This created a slew of memories for Cincinnati residents who knew the stadium as the home of the “Big Red Machine” baseball dynasty and the place where Cincinnati hosted three World Series Championships. Riverfront Stadium was especially meaningful to its former construction manager, Donald E. Wehmeyer, Eve ’61.

For the Wehmeyer family, Riverfront Stadium was more than a stadium, it was the backdrop of their childhood and the product of Don’s sacrifice, dedication and leadership. It was where his kids spent weekends with their father, where they heard stories straight from legendary players and where they watched unforgettable moments unfold — like sitting behind third base when Pete Rose ran over Ray Fosse in the 1970 All-Star Game.

“A stadium may start as concrete and steel on a drawing board, but it becomes something far more meaningful. What Dad helped build became a place where hundreds of thousands — maybe millions — of families came together for baseball and football games and left with memories that lasted a lifetime. That’s part of his legacy,” Don’s children recall.  

After Wehmeyer’s passing in 2008, his family sought a meaningful way to honor his memory. A way to capture the spirit of a man devoted to civic good, to his family and to using his talents to enrich the lives of every Cincinnatian.

In his honor, the Wehmeyer family recently established the Donald E. Wehmeyer Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund for the University of Cincinnati College of Engineering and Applied Science. Through a combination of an outright gift and a planned commitment, the family designed the fund to make an impact both now and in the future — providing immediate scholarship support for current students through lifetime giving while building a lasting endowment through an estate gift that will benefit generations of aspiring engineers to come.

Don Wehmeyer set his family on a course toward higher education, supporting all four of his children as they attended UC. When his family asked how they could repay him, Wehmeyer always offered the same answer: “You don’t — you pay it forward.” The family hopes to honor his memory by giving others the same support and opportunity for higher education that Don so meaningfully provided to them.

Wehmeyer used his engineering prowess for public good, dedicating his career to improving the city and refining systems that benefit Cincinnati residents. For the Wehmeyer family, Don’s legacy and the UC scholarship founded in his name will ensure that other students with Wehmeyer’s same drive and purpose will have the opportunity to use their engineering education to create meaningful changes in their communities.

“Perseverance, dedication and the ability to overcome adversity can change the course of a life,” says Wehmeyer’s family. “Dad’s scholarship helps make that possible by supporting students who are willing to work hard and pursue their goals. It aims to open doors for future engineers and help them move forward toward opportunity and achievement.”

Wehmeyer’s life stands as a testament to how one individual’s dedication can elevate a family and an entire community. The Donald E. Wehmeyer Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund carries that spirit forward, ensuring that Wehmeyer’s commitment to public good is continued by providing future engineers with the resources they need to achieve their goals.

“The pursuit of higher education is the engine that drives innovation and discovery at our university,” notes John “Marty” Emmert, PhD, interim dean for the College of Engineering and Applied Science. “It is through the generous support of those who have paved the way in the engineering industry that future leaders are able to learn, thrive and contribute to the building of a better world.”

Through Wehmeyer’s devoted service, generosity and civic impact, his legacy will live on through his family and the future UC engineering students who will use their skills to advance the future of Cincinnati and beyond.