Why We Give: Margie and Bob Bedingfield

This story is being republished with permission from the University of Maryland Athletics.

By Michael Rovetto, Staff Writer

Margie and Bob Bedingfield’s deep-rooted connection to the University of Maryland spans generations, leading them to give back through generous scholarship endowments that support student-athletes and business students.

The Bedingfields’ ties to the University of Maryland run deep. 

Margie (’72) and Bob (’70) Bedingfield crossed paths at the university through their fraternity and sorority and recently marked 55 years of marriage. 

Margie graduated in education and Bob graduated from the Smith School of Business. Their son, Kenneth Bedingfield (’94), is also a Smith School graduate and granddaughter, Stephanie Dean (’22), is a Clark School of Engineering graduate.  

However, Bob and Margie Bedingfield’s attachment to College Park is much deeper than a set of degrees.   

“Our hearts are with the University of Maryland because that's where we met,” Margie said. “The school means a lot to us, remembering back how we dated and different things like that. It's always been a wonderful experience for us and our family.”

Bob and Margie committed $1.625 million to Maryland Athletics by creating two endowed scholarships. Both scholarships provide merit-based support for undergraduate student-athletes in perpetuity. 

The Margie and Bob Bedingfield Endowed Scholarship for Men’s Basketball will support the men’s basketball program, and the Margie and Bob Bedingfield Endowed Scholarship for Athletics will support all programs, with preference given to the men’s basketball and men’s and women’s golf programs.

“Gifts of this magnitude are not taken lightly, and we can’t thank Margie and Bob enough for their vision and commitment,” said Damon Evans, the Barry P. Gossett Director of Athletics. “Terrapin student-athletes cannot achieve their lofty goals both on the playing surface and in the classroom without this type of generous support from our alumni and community, and we look forward to seeing the impact of Margie and Bob’s generosity in the years and decades to come.”

The commitment is part of a total devotion of $1.750 million, including the Margie and Bob Bedingfield Maryland Promise Scholarship, which benefits a student in the Smith School. 

“We are grateful to Margie and Bob for continuing their support of the Smith community through the Margie and Bob Bedingfield Maryland Promise Scholarship,” said Dean Prabhudev Konana, Dean of the Smith School. “This scholarship will allow Smith to continue to attract the best students from the region to receive the same top-notch education the Bedingfields take pride in supporting.” 

Bob, a native of Anacostia, Prince George's County and graduate of Gonzaga College High School, and Margie, a native of Chevy Chase and graduate of Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, blossomed their relationship in College Park. Even after they graduated and got married, the pair lived in the campus area.

Much of their free time was spent on campus with their children. They entertained themselves by attending Maryland sporting events and visiting the now-defunct Denton Beach and campus farms. 

“We would take the kids out there and go through the farms and talk to the people,” Bob said. “We would go up and watch some of the sports teams practice, whether it was football, baseball, basketball or tennis. … For a number of years, while we were on a tight budget, we just hung around there and did things that our whole family could do.”

When it was time for Ken to attend college, Bob and Margie wanted him to look at various colleges. They made it apparent he didn’t have to choose Maryland because of his parent’s connection to the university. Ken listened, but it was in his heart to be a Terp.   

“We took the kids when they were growing up to so many basketball and football games,” Margie said. “He already had the love of the University of Maryland in his heart.”  

Bob landed a job with Ernst & Young after leaving college. While he often worked late nights, Margie, who earned her degree in education, was the main person who raised their children. She later became heavily involved in the family’s philanthropic and community service efforts over the years, as she helped form the Junior Suburban Women's Club of Montgomery County — now known as Metropolitan Community Club of Montgomery County. 

Once the Bedingfields gained financial stability, they joined the Terrapin Club. They typically attended football and basketball games with six tickets so their children and friends could attend. Although they live in Florida for much of the year, they maintain the six tickets, allowing their son Ken and his family to attend games. 

The Bedingfields estimate they’ve attended roughly 450 basketball games and 150 football games at Maryland. They grew incredibly close to the basketball team and became close friends with Hall of Fame head coach Gary Williams through their support for the program since he came back to his alma mater in 1989.

When the Terps won the national championship in 2002, Bob received a championship ring from the program. He had never asked for anything in return for his family's support.  

“We've been through the ups and downs, but we've always enjoyed every minute of it,” Bob said. “To this day, we remain big fans.”

Bob's brother, Jim, has three degrees from the Smith School and retired as chairman of the accounting department. The Bedingfields’ nephew, Patrick Bedingfield, has been a volunteer assistant for the Maryland women’s golf team since 2017. Year after year, Bob and Margie host the entire team and its staff at their golf club in Florida. They have lunch together and simply converse. Bob referred to the time spent with the team as one of the highlights of his year. 

“It's nice to hear them talk about their enthusiasm for Maryland and for the golf program,” Margie said. “It's always a fun afternoon.” 

Bob spent more than 40 years with Ernst & Young. He then became an Emeritus Trustee of the University of the Maryland College Park Foundation, allowing him to have a more profound impact on the university. He and his wife have been actively involved in volunteer opportunities at College Park for more than 40 years. 

“Dealing with Maryland people has always been a joy,” Bob said. “Whether it's the staff, the volunteers, the graduates or whatever, it has always been a joy. I think a lot goes back to the nature of a state school and the people that go to it, the hard-working people that want to accomplish something and pass it on to their children.”

The Bedingfields’ connection to Maryland Athletics isn’t the only reason they give back. They also firmly believe that sports, specifically collegiate athletics, play a significant role in developing future business and community leaders. 

Through their scholarship commitments, the Bedingfields hope to help Maryland continue to recruit high-character individuals and make a difference in their lives.  

“We want to recruit the best people to College Park, and we want to recruit the best people that are athletes also,” Bob said. “If we can help financially to ease some of their burden so that they can concentrate on their passion for athletics and their passion for academics, we've accomplished a lot. And as always, go Terps!”