Marilyn Horner majored in business at Omaha University when there were “very few women majoring in business,” in the 1950s, she said.
“I had to work part time while I was going to school,” Marilyn said. “Nowadays, so many of the young women are doing the same thing at UNO.”
Marilyn and her husband, Walt Horner, have endowed a scholarship with Marilyn’s sorority. It is given to a woman in the sorority pursuing a degree in the College of Business at her alma mater, now called the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
“(The scholarship) would’ve helped me. That’s for sure,” Marilyn said.
Walt and Marilyn of Ralston donated $2,059 to Goodfellows, The World-Herald’s charity, in honor of their 59th anniversary last year. They celebrated 60 years of marriage on Nov. 23 and will donate in honor of their anniversary again this year, Marilyn said.
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“I just want to be able to give things without any strings attached,” she said. All funds donated to Goodfellows go directly to those in need; there are no administrative charges or fees. That includes food vouchers, rent and utility bill assistance, shoes, coats and clothing.
Now, Marilyn says she’s lucky that they can give. They’ve also sponsored scholarships through the Suburban Rotary of Omaha.
“We’ve been very blessed in our lives and have never had to go to Goodfellows to pay a bill or something like that,” she said. “It’s just a way of paying forward.”
She spends retirement with Walt traveling “as much as we can,” often visiting their son Robert in Montana. He now owns the Omaha business that Walt founded. Walt, whom Marilyn met at college, retired from Heavy Duty Specialists two years ago, at age 81.
Restaurateurs Ross Nisi and Eli Caniglia, with two young friends, celebrate a donation to Goodfellows in 1963. The gift was from The Strip Association, a trade group made up of people who ran restaurants on 72nd Street from Dodge to Center Streets.
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From left, Mrs. David Brown, Mrs. Francis Walker and Mrs. Donald Rose, a brigadier and director of Women's Services for the Salvation Army, celebrate the opening of the Salvation Army and the World-Herald Good Fellows Toy Shop. Each day until Christmas, parents of needy families may select gifts for their children. Parents coming to the shop at 1561 Capitol Ave. must demonstrate need. Photo from an edition of The World-Herald on Dec. 21, 1972.
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The World-Herald's Goodfellows fund through the years
In 1938, Omahans created “Mile o’ Dimes” to raise funds for The World-Herald’s Goodfellows charity. Board members behind the effort are pictured here.
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Ray Messler on Dec. 15, 1938.
- THE WORLD-HERALD
Goodfellows donors Burdock Fredericton and Brownie Walters made up the Cornhusker Orchestra in 1939.
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Betty Litman and Ed Reinhardt on Dec. 1, 1941. Rotary Cleaners had a "Good Fellows" kitty for whenever an employee lost his temper and said something he shouldn't.
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Officers of the Foreign Wars contribute to the “Mile o’ Dimes” for The World-Herald’s Goodfellows charity as “Miss Goodfellows” looks on.
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Children gather to sing carols for the Goodfellows fund in 1944.
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Bill looks at pictures of toys in a catalog.
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Members of Beta Sigma Phi, a non-academic sorority, donate to Goodfellows in 1945.
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Bill, pictured here in 1945, is a beneficiary of The World-Herald's Goodfellows charity.
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On Dec. 7, 1947, two boys look forward to Santa's arrival.
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Members of the Omaha Knights hockey team donate to The World-Herald’s Goodfellows fund in 1948. The charity started in the late 1880s and has raised more than $16 million since record-keeping began in 1945.
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Gloria and Alfred write a letter to Santa Claus on Dec. 21, 1950.
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Linda waits for Santa Claus on Dec. 3, 1951.
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A Goodfellows Christmas card from Nov. 14, 1952.
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Kenneth and his little sister look at toy ads.
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Mary meets Santa Claus on Dec. 7, 1958.
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Employees at the South Omaha Post Office urge people to donate to Goodfellows in 1962. From left, they are are John Cupich, Ray Meloccaro and Postmaster John Munnelly.
- THE WORLD-HERALD
Restaurateurs Ross Nisi and Eli Caniglia, with two young friends, celebrate a donation to Goodfellows in 1963. The gift was from The Strip Association, a trade group made up of people who ran restaurants on 72nd Street from Dodge to Center Streets.
- THE WORLD-HERALD
Pinky, a Nebraska Kennel Club champion, delivers the club’s $200 donation to Goodfellows in 1964.
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Mrs. Max Sacks and Mrs. Mike Montello from The World-Herald's Goodfellows charity fill a bag held by Mike Montello, Sokol Lanes manager, dressed as Santa, on Christmas Day, 1966.
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World-Herald employee Tim Daughtery accepts Goodfellows donations from James Wightman, Alan Johnson and Michael Henderson from the Gene Eppley Boys Club on Dec. 20, 1967.
- THE WORLD-HERALD
From left, Mrs. David Brown, Mrs. Francis Walker and Mrs. Donald Rose, a brigadier and director of Women's Services for the Salvation Army, celebrate the opening of the Salvation Army and the World-Herald Good Fellows Toy Shop. Each day until Christmas, parents of needy families may select gifts for their children. Parents coming to the shop at 1561 Capitol Ave. must demonstrate need. Photo from an edition of The World-Herald on Dec. 21, 1972.
- THE WORLD-HERALD
Jermaine, pictured here on Nov. 24, 1982, is one of the beneficiaries of The World-Herald's Goodfellows organization.
- THE WORLD-HERALD
