Emerson Family Endowed Scholarship

The initial endowment for the Endowment was from Jean Emerson. Jean was originally married to Raymond “Dode” Woodring. The Woodrings had a large cattle ranch in Unaweep Canyon and on Pinon Mesa. Following the death of Mr. Woodring, Jean married George Emerson. George Emerson was a pioneer in shipping peaches from western Colorado by rail and operated the peach ranch at Bridgeport on the Gunnison River east of Whitewater. George and Jean knew each other from local social gatherings in the area.

George Emerson’s nephew John Emerson and his wife Eleanor founded Quality Meat Company with George in 1946. This Grand Junction Business is still operated by the family.

Jean Emerson was a nurse and a graduate of a nursing school in Kansas. The family chose to support the Colorado Mesa University Nursing Program to honor the memory of their aunt.