$500,000 Scholarship Fund Established to Assist Chilton County Students
Mrs. Mary Lou Easterling, the widow of William Richard Easterling, has established a $500,000 scholarship fund to assist graduates from Chilton County’s six high school attend The University of Alabama.
The William Richard Easterling Endowed Scholarship will be used to provide scholarships for Chilton County high school graduates to attend UA’s Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration, where in 1960 Easterling earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration and statistics.
Mrs. Easterling said her husband, a Chilton County native, had always wanted to start a fund but couldn’t due to uncertainties surrounding his health.
“A couple of months ago, it just hit me, ‘I ought to do that,’” she said at a luncheon at People’s Southern Bank in Clanton.
William Richard Easterling, known by most people as Bill, was born and raised in Chilton County and taught seventh though 12th grade math at Verbena School. He was instrumental in starting the school’s basketball team, which practiced in the Mitchell Dam clubhouse because the school didn’t have a gym.
“Bill had a great time here, and he never forgot it,” Mrs. Easterling said.
“He always talked about it over the years.”
Chris Davis, member of the local board of education and one of Easterling’s former students, also shared some stories during the assembly.
“He was something,” Davis said. “I loved Mr. Richard.”
After serving two years in the army, Easterling joined E.R. Carpenter Company, which makes polyurethane foam and chemicals and polyester fiber used as cushioning by the automotive, bedding, floor covering, packaging, and furniture industries, among others. The company also sells consumer products and has facilities throughout North America and Europe.
He served as president and chief operations officer before his retirement in 1995. He passed away in 2005.
J. Barry Mason, dean of the business school, thanked Mrs. Easterling for her generosity and said gifts such as the William Richard Easterling Endowed Scholarship form the foundation for the college and allow talented students an opportunity to achieve academic and professional success.
Superintendent of Education Keith Moore thanked the Easterling family on behalf of the board for their contribution to local education.
“Today, what you and your family have done is going to make dreams come true for several of our students, and we appreciate what you’ve done,” Moore said.
February 12th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
hey can i get the scholarship after 12th how plz tell me yarr