A $2.8 million Raymond L. Krell Law School Endowed Fund for student scholarships has been established at Wayne State University.

In accepting the Krell gift WSU President Irvin D. Reid said, "The fund is the largest individual gifts ever given to the Law School and one of the largest given to the university. Such support enables the university to extend every opportunity to students, regardless of their financial circumstances," he said.

The gift was officially received at a 10 a.m. ceremony Friday, April 14, at the Law School with Krell's sister, Marilyn Rollinger, and several of his friends in attendance. Krell died in 1999.

Law Dean Joan Mahoney, who will award the scholarships, says the fund will be used to attract and retain outstanding students. She said Krell's clear intention was to improve society through the development of better educated, wiser, and more thoughtful lawyers and judges.

Mahoney added that Krell directed that the recipients are to be informed that they have the moral, but not the legal, obligation to repay their awards so the fund will continue to help more students.

The dean also said that Krell had created an earlier $30,000 endowed scholarship fund in 1988. Because he was interested in supporting pro bono and legal services work, the Law School awarded that scholarship annually to the student who was elected chairperson of the Free Legal Aid Clinic.

"Each year," she said, "Krell would personally award the scholarship at the Law School's annual honors program."

Krell received a bachelor's degree in 1954 and a law degree in 1958, both from Wayne State. He was a member of the Founders Circle of the Anthony Wayne Society.

At the time of his death he worked at the law offices of Raymond L. Krell, P.C. in the Guardian Building, Detroit. He was a certified police instructor, teaching law enforcement officers about proper police practice.

For more information call the Law School at (313) 577-3933.