The Owen O. and Della M. Orr Scholarship

Della Orr provided the largest estate gifts ever received by The University of Akron in 2005. Della specified that her gift is to be used for student scholarships in her name and the name of her husband Owen O. Orr. The University determined her gift initially will be used to provide scholarships for honors students. Appropriately, The Gertrude F. Orr Hall, named for Owen Orr’s mother and which he had funded in the early 1960’s to be the first women’s residence hall on campus is now a part of the Honors College. Honors students will now benefit from this generous gift which pays tribute to the commitment of both Della and Owen to the University. Not long after his landmark gift to the University in the early 1960’s Owen suffered an extended illness and then died in 1979. Della and Owen Orr may have been more involved with the University during their lifetimes, if it had not been for Owen’s unfortunate illness. While caring for Owen was the primary focus of Della’s life for nearly 20 years, Owen had entrusted her with responsibility for the family finances. She became an astute investor and accomplished business woman.

Owen O. Orr was the founder of Akron Motor Cargo Company. Established in 1931, the company changed its name in 1939 to Motor Cargo Company. By the time the company was sold in 1956 it was the eighth largest common carrier trucking company in the United States. Consolidated Freightways of Portland, Oregon bought the company. Mr. Orr was also President of Orr-Thomas Oil, Orr Service and Supply Company, Industrial Oil and Chemical Company and Triple O Service and Supply Company.