FORD GIFT PAVES WAY FOR NEW ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIPS AT SOUTHEAST

Two new endowed scholarships have been completed through the Southeast Missouri University Foundation, thanks to the generosity of Carolyn P. Ford and the Donald K. Ford Estate.

Their $20,000 gift to the foundation has paved the way for the Donald K. Ford Memorial Percussion Endowed Scholarship and the Walter H. "Doc" Ford Memorial Endowed Scholarship.

"Don Ford was a man close to the foundation's heart who served as director of development here," said Wayne Davenport, vice president for university advancement and executive director of the foundation. "All scholarships are important, but the one in his memory has extra special meaning. The fact that Don and his family were also so thoughtful to associate Don's father's name with one of the scholarships adds even more significance to their generosity and to their memorializing exceptional people in their lives."

The late Donald Ford was the former director of development at Southeast and was a jazz drummer from the late 1950s until his death. His love of jazz and performing was the catalyst for establishing the endowed scholarship for percussion majors. Ford served as percussion head of the Golden Eagles Marching Band in 1963 and 1964 while majoring in mathematics and English as an undergraduate.

During his college days and after graduating from Southeast in 1966, Ford appeared with many celebrities and big bands. He also played with a number of local bands and orchestras.

The scholarship will be awarded to a percussion major who exhibits financial need and maintains an overall "B" average. Those seeking the scholarship must audition on any percussion instrument determined by the scholastic selection committee. Preference will be given to a percussion major who is vitally interested in jazz and who exhibits aptitude, interest and ability to perform as a jazz drummer. The scholarship will be awarded for the first time to a student for the fall 1998 semester.

The Fords' gift also made possible the Walter H. "Doc" Ford Memorial Endowed Scholarship through the foundation. The scholarship was named in memory of the Donald Ford's late father.

"Doc" Ford was a longtime mayor of Cape Girardeau during the late 1940s through the early 1960s. He then want on to become 2nd District judge of the Cape Girardeau County Court during the later 1960s. He died in 1968. In addition to being a fixture in Cape Girardeau County politics for the better part of three decades, "Doc" Ford was a successful businessman as the founder and owner of Ford and Sons Funeral Home Inc. of Cape Girardeau.

"Doc" Ford graduated from Southeast in 1932 with an education degree, majoring in economics and political science. As an undergraduate, he excelled in intercollegiate athletics, earning letters all four years in each of three sports -- basketball, baseball and football -- for a total of 12 varsity letters. He was one of only a few to earn that many letters at Southeast.

"Doc" Ford attended graduate school at the University of Colorado, taking course work for a master's degree in political science and economics. He returned to Cape Girardeau to accept his first political post before completing his master's degree.

The scholarship will be awarded to a student majoring in economics, political science or education who demonstrates financial need. Students must have at least a "B" average. The scholarship will be renewable for a maximum of two academic years. If an applicant meets this criteria and is a men's or women's basketball player, preference on selection will be given to a basketball player. The first award will be made for the fall 1998 semester.