John and Grace Estep would have loved supporting the downtown development that their foundation’s gift to the city will help facilitate, attorney Rick Clifton said Monday.

Clifton presented Andalusia Mayor Earl Johnson a $100,000 check toward the purchase of the First National Bank building Tuesday night.

“Dr. Estep and Mrs. Estep were members of community for a number of years,” Clifton said. “They were the ones that set up that cooperative professional building across the street (from the bank building).”

He said it was among the city’s first cooperative buildings.

“That complex has housed professional offices for years and years, and still does today,” he said.

“The Esteps were always contributing to the community in different ways,” he said. “At their deaths, they left all of their assets to a foundation to support and beautify the community.”

Clifton said the foundation has supported the Andalusia Ballet; Miracle Field; the pool project in Opp; parks in Florala; the state parks at Lake Frank Jackson; the Humane Society, and the Cultural Arts Center.

“It is a real pleasure to work with a group that can make these types of contribution,” Clifton said. “We are pleased to be able to help y’all out for that purchase.”

The city purchased the historic downtown building last week for $260,000. The balance of the purchase cost, along with needed repairs, will be funded from the city’s reserves, city officials said.