Dr. Berger Keatts
Alumnus’ honors his favorite professor with gift
to WSU CVM
Dr. Berger Keatts, DVM (’50) and retired
farmer, decided to support his alma mater in attracting a renowned
instructor and researcher when he established the “Berger Keatts
Distinguished Professorship” in the College of Veterinary Medicine.
His gift is advancing research efforts and continuing the legacy of
instructional excellence that places Washington State University
Dr. Keatts was inspired to create the “Distinguished
Professorship” in honor of the man who gave him the desire to become a
veterinarian more than 50 years ago. The inspiration for Dr. Keatts’ gift
came from his wish to honor the memory of Dr. John McCoy, former dean of the
WSU College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. McCoy had a tremendous influence on
Dr. Keatts’ career choice, stemming from an experience that occurred when he
was just 10 years old. Dr. Keatts and his father traveled from their farm
near Pomeroy to Pullman to seek treatment for a horse that had fallen ill.
Dr. McCoy was the veterinarian who treated the horse, and the young Keatts
was so impressed with the veterinarian that he told his father he wanted to
be just like Dr. McCoy when he grew up. Dr. Keatts said Dr. McCoy was an
articulate and thorough instructor whose diagnostic skills were unparalleled
as he recalled how Dr. McCoy often astonished students with an acute ability
to “practically see right into his patients.”
Dr. Keatts careful gift planning includes the following elements:
- First, he established a Charitable Remainder Annuity
Trust that paid him a fixed income until his death and provided him with
an immediate income tax charitable deduction. At his death, the
remaining trust assets were passed to the WSU Foundation to fund the
professorship he believes is so critical to veterinary education.
- Next, Dr. Keatts changed the beneficiary designation
on his Individual Retirement Account (IRA) to the WSU Foundation. The
proceeds from the IRA also flowed into the professorship at his death.
As a charitable organization, the WSU Foundation did not have to pay the
deferred income tax on this account and realized additional savings
dedicated to Dr. Keatts intent.
- Dr. Keatts also provided an additional contribution
to bring the professorship up to a predetermined level should the trust
and IRA fail to do so. Together these elements ensured that his wishes
were carried out regardless of market fluctuations.
- Finally, Gift Planning staff worked with Dr. Keatts,
his attorney, and the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine to create an
agreement setting the criteria for the distinguished professorship. This
provided Dr. Keatts with an extraordinary opportunity to provide direct
input into the role and responsibilities his professorship assumed.
Like most veterinarians, Dr. Keatts was humble about
his gift. Still he realized that it serves as an example and makes others
think about what they can or might want to do for WSU. He said he was
following his mother’s advice to “give your money away now so you can see it
at work.”
