James E. Key, M.D. ’70, clinical professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at Baylor College of Medicine, and Mrs. Betty Key, who have been married for 57 years, believe a person’s time, effort and resources are the greatest gifts to give someone.
This philosophy guided Dr. Key when he opened his private ophthalmology practice in the Texas Medical Center in 1976, offering his renowned expertise in contact lens research, skill in cataract surgery and signature brand of personalized, unhurried patient care. He staffed resident cataract surgery for 25 years at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Baylor’s first affiliate hospital and one of the largest Veterans Affairs hospitals in the nation.
It was this same philosophy of generosity that guided Mrs. Key, after graduating with a degree in mathematics from The University of Texas at Austin, where the Keys fell in love. She used her stable, well-paying job as a computer programmer for IBM at NASA during the Apollo project to support them both while Dr. Key pursued his medical degree without incurring any debt.
“Not many medical students can do that right now,” Mrs. Key said.
Having seen firsthand the difference time, effort and resources can make, the Keys have taken many opportunities to invest in their community, particularly in higher education. The Keys have made a bequest of $100,000 to further the highest priorities of Baylor, adding to their longtime support, including a lectureship in the Department of Ophthalmology. The decision to design their contribution as a deferred gift came after careful consideration and personal experience.
“After sitting on two endowment boards myself, I realized how much those endowments had grown over time and how much more those organizations could do when they had endowments they could count on,” Dr. Key said. “And besides that, making a planned gift is a rather easy thing to do. After all, it is a future gift that doesn’t impact your current income.”
The planned gift, which the Keys designed using the services of Thompson and Associates—a personalized, value-based estate planning program—helped the couple balance their estate planning strategy and resources so they could ensure their loved ones were taken care of while also ensuring that their support for Baylor continued.
“Years ago, a religious leader once said, ‘The only thing we take with us when we die is what we have given away,’” Dr. Key said. “I was inspired by the educational opportunity that I was offered at Baylor. Given the experience that I had, I wanted to be sure that the school has adequate resources to support students in the future.”
“I just can’t think of any better place for your money to go than to places where you have your heart,” Mrs. Key said.
“I was inspired by the educational opportunity that I was offered at Baylor. Given the experience that I had, I wanted to be sure that the school has adequate resources to support students in the future.”
—James E. Key, M.D. ’70
