RJR CLASS OF 1968 MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
Background and History of the Scholarship
The idea for a memorial scholarship originated with members of the Class in response to the tragic death of one of the class, Ed Gannaway, who saved many lives but lost his own, heroically piloting a malfunctioning commuter airliner to the ground in August, 1995. As interest grew in a proposed scholarship versus other ideas submitted, so too did a desire to have it memorialize all departed members of the Class of 1968. The memorial was and is to recognize the contributions they made to our collective life while at Reynolds and to their respective communities in subsequent years. The Class voted overwhelmingly to create and establish the scholarship as perpetual.
Thus, in 1997, the R. J. Reynolds Class of 1968 Memorial Scholarship was launched, and the first award was made in Spring 1999. It is funded almost entirely by classmate donations to the endowment, managed by the Winston-Salem Foundation. A member of the Class presents the award at Class Day and speaks of the memorial to any deceased classmate from the prior year at the same event.
Organization
The bylaws adopted in 1997 provide for a dual role in managing the affairs of the Scholarship. Co-chairs are named to lead the program, with one being named Managing Co-chair.
Duties include the identification and method of raising funds, relationship management of the fund endowment account with the Winston-Salem Foundation, designation of the annual award, selection of the presentation to the recipient, and periodic reporting to the Class. Committees for Fundraising and Applicant Selection may be made.
Selection Committee Chairs and Members:
| Chairs | Years |
|---|---|
| Molly Piner Brown | 1998 – 2004 |
| Karen Hancock Blackwelder | 2004 – 2006 |
| Nancy Gheesling Streblow | 2007 – 2008 |
| Charles Jenkins | 2008 – 2011 |
| Marcia Mueller Priddy | 2012 – 2014 |
| Ted Macklin | 2014 – 2017 |
| Karlynn Morgan | 2018 – 2021 |
| Susan Speaks Parrish | 2022 – 2024 |
| Carol Vealy Miller | 2025 – |
Co-Chairs
1997 – 2014 Woody Fox and Peter Hawley
2014 – 2018 Woody Fox and Marcia Mueller Priddy
2018 – 2023 John Weiler and David Fuller
2024 – Present David Fuller and Susan Speaks Parrish
Members
Jan Nicholson Assimos
Molly Levin Beck
Sami Ousley Bills
Karen Hancock Blackwelder
Molly Piner Brown
Kay Henderson Collare
Woody Fox
Billy D. Friende, Jr.
David Fuller
Vera Vrsecky Fulton
Penny Gallins
Eric Giles
Molly Barber Griffin
Bill Hunt
Charles Jenkins
Delphine Baskins Kearney
Terry Key
Paul Knouse
Jim Lawson
Larry Little
Mary Armstrong Lowe
Ted Macklin
Jim Martin
Carol Vealy Miller
Karlynn Morgan
Mary Adams Nicholson
Bill Nifong
Ann Googe Nusbaum
Susan Speaks Parrish
Marcia Mueller Priddy
Janet Silverman Roseman
Hugh “Huck” Robinson
Chris Sawyer
Judy Smith
Bill Spaulding
Nancy Gheesling Streblow
Mike Swain
Alan Toy
John Weiler
Jim Witherington
Tom Transou
Dan Tulman