Dr. and Mrs. Dixon created the Dr. John B. and Mary Jane Dixon Scholarship fund to assist North Iowa students in attaining higher education. After learning about NIACC’s major gift campaign through a newspaper editorial, Dr. Dixon chose to make an investment in the College and the future education of many young people.
Dr. Dixon has recognized the value of education for many years. A Kansas City, Missouri, native, Dr. Dixon earned a B.S. from the University of Kansas and an M.D. from Kansas University Medical School.
Dr. Dixon served as a medical officer in the United State Air Force for three years prior to his ophthalmology training at Washington University in St. Louis. He became a board certified ophthalmologist in 1955 and practiced in Parsons, Kansas for 10 years.
Dr. and Mrs. Dixon had the opportunity to move to Mason City in 1957 when he joined another ophthalmologist in his practice. Dr. Dixon purchased the practice and served North Iowans as an ophthalmologist for 40 years until his retirement in 1997.
Jane, as Mary Jane is known, also valued education. She earned a B.S. in business administration from the University of Missouri and a M.S. in social work in several nursing home in Mason City, including the Heritage Care Center and USA Healthcare, formerly Sunrise Care Center.
Dr. Dixon and his late wife always wanted to give back to the community that gave so much to them over the years. “NIACC plays an extremely important role in the fabric, life and economics of North Iowa. It is important for those of us who have benefited from the opportunities offered here to give back to our community. I feel a gift to NIACC is the best way to ensure that future generations will have access to the many opportunities provided to me and my family,” Dixon says. “I am not a millionaire of anything, but I thought if I did this, perhaps it would encourage others to do the same. I’m 92 and am not going to live forever. I would rather do something now that helps students today.”
Many NIACC students have and will continue to receive scholarships thanks to the Dixons.