Rich folks throwing around money is nothing new.

Rich folks flaunting their wealth for “unselfish” philanthropy is nothing revolutionary either.

We all can point to some of the world’s affluent at any given time and see an entire organization or two carrying out their “altruistic” agenda (cut to Bill and Melinda Gates, Warren Buffet, former president Bill Clinton).

Billionaires have been giving to charities the same way dictators “nationalize” industry, passing out the occasional scrap to show that the benevolence is at least somewhat a reality.

They can spend a decimal of their treasure to throw their names on a foundation or join/aid the UN and their sins are forgiven. Their plush souls can sleep even more comfortably at night.

But this is not a rant against the wealthy. What the rich do with their money — buy yachts, mansions, do insider trading, run for president — is up to them. No, this is rant about a guy in Hyde Park with the science-fiction dream of building the cities of the future — Victory Cities.

Last week, we ran an article about local 89-year-old millionaire, Orville Simpson, who has willed over $10 million — nearly the entirety of his wealth — to the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning.

He did this in hopes that after his death, his dream of ultra-efficient, utopian urban design model could be realized.
Though he is by no means making a direct charitable contribution to the poor and sickly of the world, his almost absurd and unquestionably charming obsession to create the city of the future wins this man some serious points.

However hokey and unrealistic his goal may be, his Howard Hughesian devotion and determination is as formidable as it is honest.
Simpson is a fairly normal man. He never graduated high school and worked many years in blue-collar positions (a storm window salesman, a drill press operator, a cloth cutter, a foundry timekeeper), making savvy investments with his money.

Spending much of his time alone, designing and planning the future.
To give an idea of how dedicated Simpson is to his vision, instead of the traditional salutations, Simpson was liable to say “My name’s Orville, and I’m planning the city of the future,” according to a 1989 Life Magazine article.

He is also known to carry a set of small drawings, detailing layouts and designs, in his front pocket to be shown at a moments notice.

By all accounts, it is obvious that Simpson is utterly consumed with his vision, and it is that sort of earnest devotion to a vision that sets him apart from other donors.

Victory Cities are his life, and he hopes that the dream will live on after him, entrusting it to the students and faculty of DAAP.
In the winter of his life, he is devoting nearly his entire estate to build a library to preserve and build on to his life’s work.

However selfish it maybe to build an edifice in your name, Simpson’s oversized and, dare we say, childish wonderment to bring prosperity and happiness to the human race is noble an inspiration for everyone with a wild dream.