Alma's Hardware Friend
“My giving stems in large part from my associations with the very kind and nice faculty, staff, administrators and students. Alma College is not only important to the city of Alma, but it is valuable to all of the Gratiot County economy. We need Alma College!” – Kim Newson
Kim Newson never attended Alma College as a student. Yet, the Ithaca resident and longtime downtown Alma businessman has been one of the College’s biggest boosters, both in spirit and financially through his consistent giving.
Kim Newson (right), honored in 2007 with the Community Service Award.
“Absolutely, I’m probably Alma College’s No. 1 fan for a non-alumnus,” he says. “I’ve learned that there’s nothing like a liberal arts degree. I went to a public university, but I wish I had attended Alma. Students with a liberal arts education have much better communication and thinking skills.”
For 34 years, Newson was the majority owner of Alma True Value Hardware, just a few blocks from campus on Superior Street. He semi-retired last January after selling a majority of his shares to his partner, Mark Sopel. Still, he can’t stay away. He is seen almost daily in the store.
“I seem to be working as many hours as I ever have,” he says. “But I really enjoy it. I always have loved what I do.”
Newson thrives on building community relationships. He has known many faculty and administrators over the years and has hired students to work in his store.
“I had tremendous fondness for Professor Joe Sutfin, who recently passed away,” says Newson. “He was in the store almost every Saturday morning, and if he didn’t show up, we would call his house to check up on him. After Dr. Swanson retired, he would come down and sit and talk for five minutes or an hour. In fact, we made house calls to Dr. Swanson.”
He has employed over the years more than a dozen Alma College students, many of whom stop back to see him whenever they visit Alma.
“I’ve had a lot of them, like Kim Driver, Dwight Kelsey, Amy Hufferd, Nicole Smith and Bob Norris,” he says. “All were outstanding kids.”
He also feels strongly about the positive impact Alma College has on the greater Gratiot community. His community connections make him an ideal person to help with Alma College’s annual Community Fund Drive.
“College faculty and administrators have always been involved in local organizations, like the United Way, Kiwanis, Lions Club and Rotary,” he says. “There continues to be a huge amount of loyalty between the community and the college. Many people who came to Alma College from outside have never left and have adopted Alma as their community.”
Newson’s giving history has included support for annual scholarships, athletic facilities, Wright Hall, the Alma Fund, the Swanson Memorial Endowed Fund, and the Campaign for Science and the Performing Arts. He and his wife Ellie also have established an endowed scholarship.
“My giving stems in large part from my associations with the very kind and nice faculty, staff, administrators and students,” he says. “Alma College is not only important to the city of Alma, but it is valuable to all of the Gratiot County economy. We need Alma College!”
Newson’s gifts to Alma College support the Open Windows Campaign, which seeks to strengthen the foundation of the Alma Experience for current and future students. As of Aug. 31, 2009, the Campaign had achieved 99 percent of the $35.25 million fund-raising goal.
