Ura and Gladys Gingerich Scholarship Fund

Ura and Gladys Gingerich, Akron, Pennsylvania, founded the Badorf Shoe Company, which makes children’s shoes, in 1967.  Now they oversee a firm that employs nearly 90 people.

Ura, who is president of the company, has come a long way from rather humble beginnings. He was born into an Arnish family in Plain City, Ohio, but he chose to join the Mennonite Church in 1936.

Ura met Gladys Sommers from Louisville, Ohio, during his four—year term in Civilian Public Service. During their courtship, they talked about serving as relief workers in Paraguay with Mennonite Central Committee. That dream came true after they were married in 1946 and they spent two and a half years in South America before returning to the states.

Ura had considered farming as a vocation but was encouraged by friends to try something else. With that he went into the shoe business. After working 16 years for the Bachman Shoe Company, Ura and Gladys bought a manufacturing plant for children’s shoes close to Akron.

The company has become a family affair. Gladys works full—time in inventory control of finished shoes and also manages the retail outlet store. Their three sons have ownership in the company. The two oldest, Duane and Merle, work for Badorf. Youngest son, Paul, teaches at Central Christian High School in Kjdron, Ohio.

Although neither are alumni, Ura and Gladys are longtime supporters of Goshen College. Because of his Amish background, he was not allowed to attend school beyond his 16th birthday, and he wanted his children to receive the education he couldn’t have.

In Gladys’ family Goshen was “always the college you went to.” Her younger siblings attended Goshen.

As a result of these family ties, Ura and Gladys find themselves interested in helping students now attending Goshen. They’ve chosen to do this through the establishment of an endowed fund to aid students demonstrating need.