Charles and Mary Jane Maxon believed in the value of an education and they wanted to help North Iowa students get a better start through higher education.
Charles was an instructor in NIACC’s business division from 1965 through 1978. Prior to joining the NIACC faculty, he was controller at the University of Nebraska. According to daughter-in-law Elaine Maxon, “Charles really loved NIACC. He especially enjoyed working with students.”
Mary Jane was an educator, as well, teaching at Hamilton Business College. She was also a talented watercolor painter, commercial artist and CPA.
In addition to teaching, Charles and Mary Jane owned Maxon’s Arabians, an Arabian horse breeding business in rural Mason City. They bred and raised Arabian horses, and one of Maxon’s Arabians was a three-class champion in 1977.
The Maxon’s had two sons, Terry and Stephen. Both sons attended NIACC prior to seeking further degrees. Today Terry is a doctor in Glendale, Arizona and Stephen is an artist/sculptor in Kalona, Iowa.
When Charles died in 1979, Mary Jane established a NIACC scholarship in his memory. The scholarship is designed for a full-time student with special consideration for students in agriculture-related programs. Mary Jane died in 1998 and her friends and family added to the scholarship fund in her honor. In 1999, the fund was renamed the Charles W. and Mary Jane Maxon Memorial Scholarship.