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Jack Vosse - Supporting St. Jude A Family Tradition
Jack Vosse's support for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital began as a teen, before the hospital was ever built. After all, what 16-year-old boy in 1957 wouldn't have said yes when his father asked if he wanted to help pick up actress Jane Russell from the Memphis airport in a limo?
Owner of the Vosse & Bick advertising agency, Jack's father had been recruited by Danny Thomas to oversee public relations for a St. Jude benefit at Russwood Park, and transporting stars was part of his role.
"It was very exciting for me," Jack recalled. "A local dealership provided the limo and I got to ride in the back seat with Ms. Russell and another star. I remember Dad telling me I was lucky I didn't have my driver's license yet, or he would have been the one sitting in the back seat."
Jack also remembers attending the event and watching Danny perform with Lou Costello, taking on the classic role played by Bud Abbott in their signature routine, "Who's on First?"
While his father continued to help Danny with publicity for local fundraising events, Jack's involvement with St. Jude lessened. Shortly after graduating from Memphis State University (now the University of Memphis), he joined the Air Force and served in the Philippines and Thailand during the Vietnam War. After retiring from the military as a lieutenant colonel in 1987, he and his wife, Lee, settled in Montgomery, Ala., where Jack joined a program management consulting company. He retired in 2006 and Lee passed away two years later.
"I gave to St. Jude from time to time because I always felt it was a special place, and my sister Nadine's involvement kept me in touch." he said. Owner of a dance studio, Nadine Vosse Smith held recitals for many years to benefit St. Jude, in memory of one of her students who had died of leukemia while a patient at St. Jude.
Jack recently decided to again volunteer for St. Jude, by helping with his local St. Jude telethon this year.
After making one of his regular donations to St. Jude recently, Jack received a mailing asking if he would consider leaving St. Jude in his will. "I wrote back that I had already decided to leave something to the hospital through a charitable trust," he said. His local St. Jude philanthropic advisor called to thank him, and invited him to a regional donor appreciation luncheon in Montgomery.
"It had never dawned on me before to tell St. Jude (about his bequest decision), but I am glad I did, and I would encourage others to do so," he said. Jack said he has enjoyed learning more about St. Jude from his personal St. Jude representative, and from attending the annual Danny Thomas – St. St. Jude Society luncheon in Memphis in April.
"Coming to the hospital has given me a better understanding about St. Jude," he said. "I'm looking forward to becoming more involved in the future."
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