Nicholas Christian Flater
The severe storm that descended on central Iowa in August 1947 swept away the bridge to the Stanley family farm, isolating Alta Stanley as her contractions, and the storm, intensified. Her husband, Richard, had left earlier that evening to summon the family doctor, George Davison, DO, '45. Confronted with the choice of risking his life or that of Alta and her unborn child, Dr. Davison battled the waters of the swollen creek, successfully reaching the farmhouse on foot and delivering the Stanley's newborn son, William.
As William matured, he set his sights on medical school, becoming the first in his family to complete a college degree. With an influential recommendation from Dr. Davison, he joined the A.T. Still University-Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (ATSU-KCOM) family in 1969 as a first-year student. It was the realization of a dream.
Following graduation, the personal and professional family of William "Bill" Stanley, DO, '73, grew as he built a successful surgical practice. Kris and Jerry Flater and their children, Nicholas and Kate, became beloved members of Dr. Stanley's chosen extended and expanding family, with Kris serving his practice for more than a decade.
"Kris and Jerry have been medical professionals all their lives," says Dr. Stanley.
"Kris was a loyal manager of my surgical practice, member of our heart team, and excellent nurse at our hospital."
Tragically, the Flater family was dealt a devastating blow in 2017 with the accidental death of 30-year-old Nicholas.
"Nicholas was a superb young man with a bright future. A son that any parent would be proud of," Dr. Stanley says.
Nicholas served his country as a Marine, with a tour in Iraq. He later became an EMT affiliated with the emergency room at Des Moines' Mercy Hospital. At the time of his death, Nicholas was an apprentice at The Waldinger Corporation and a member of Plumbers and Steamfitters Local Union 33.
"He is one of our country's heroes," Dr. Stanley says. His parents, Kris and Jerry, add: "Nick was curious, fearless, courageous, brave, and wonderfully tenderhearted."
Dr. Stanley is now honoring Nicholas' memory with an incredible gift. He created the Nicholas Christian Flater Memorial Scholarship in 2021 through a generous contribution to ATSU-KCOM. Dr. Stanley made the gift through a qualified charitable distribution (commonly known as an IRA charitable rollover).
A qualified charitable distribution allows individuals age 701/2 and older to make a gift of any amount up to $100,000 per year directly from their IRA to a qualified charity. The transfer does not count toward their taxable income in the year the charitable gift is complete. Beginning in the year you turn 72, you can use your gift to satisfy all or part of your required minimum distribution. The gift can lower your adjusted gross income and taxable income, resulting in a lower overall tax liability for the year.
This new scholarship fund recognizes Nicholas Flater and his heroism in perpetuity while providing scholarship support to another branch of Dr. Stanley's extended family: ATSU-KCOM and its osteopathic medical students.
"ATSU-KCOM opened the door of opportunity, which has lasted a lifetime. For that I am eternally grateful," says Dr. Stanley. "Any success I have achieved started at ATSU-KCOM."
Family, heroism, and generosity. These are the recurring themes of Dr. Stanley's story. A story that is only beginning to be told through the legacy he has created and one that will continue to impact future generations at ATSU-KCOM.
Please visit giving.atsu.edu/flater to make an online gift to the Nicholas Christian Flater Memorial Scholarship.
Like Dr. Stanley, you can make a difference and help ATSU in the future. Please contact The Mesa Campus or the Kirksville Campus at 480.219.6105 (AZ) or 660.626.2180 (MO) or development@atsu.edu to learn more.