GAR History

Born from the desire to support the many needs of Northeast Ohio communities through philanthropic efforts, the GAR Foundation was established in 1967.

The growing success of Roadway Express, Inc. provided chairman and major shareholder, Galen J. Roush, the opportunity to institute a charitable trust. Upon the advice of Mr. Roush’s attorney, Lisle Buckingham, half of Mr. Roush’s estate was designated to fund the trust named the GAR (jee-ay-är) Foundation-an acronym for Galen and Ruth.

Lisle Buckingham, together with the Akron National Bank and Trust (now known as National City Bank), served as the first trustees of the GAR Foundation. The Distribution Committee consisted of three top Roadway officials; one representative from the family; and Lisle Buckingham, a member of the law firm Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs. Today, the basic composition of the Distribution Committee members of the Foundation remains the same, with three members being current or former Roadway officers or directors; one family member; and one member of the law firm of Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs.