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Stovall Endowed Scholarship Established
9-12-00

Bob and Ann Haney have established an endowed scholarship in memory of Fred and Florence Stovall through the Eastern Oklahoma State College Development Foundation at Eastern State College in Wilburton according to Foundation Director Jerry Smith.

The scholarship is designated to be used for a sophomore journalism student in good academic standing at Eastern. Foundation endowed scholarships become perpetual scholarships with the amount of the scholarship based on the annually accrued interest on the principal amount managed by the foundation.

Smith said other friends and interested individuals are welcome to contribute to the scholarship principal at any time.

Bob and Ann Haney are the daughter and son-in-law of the Stovalls. The Haney's are former Wilburton and McAlester residents now living in Colorado.

Fred and Florence Stovall were long-time Wilburton residents.

Fred was born Feb 8, 1909 in Wilburton, was graduated from Red Oak High School and attended Oklahoma Baptist University. He taught school in Latimer County and later began publishing the Latimer County Tribune in 1939.

He purchased the News-Democrat from Harold Moore in 1950 and combined the two publications changing the name of the newspaper to the Latimer County News-Tribune making it a continuous publication since 1898.

The Latimer County News-Tribune became the first newspaper in the state of Oklahoma to be printed using rotary offset in 1961. The newspaper was sold to Burchett Media Incorporated a few years after Stovall's death and remains in publication as an independent weekly community newspaper.

Fred was active in politics throughout his life. He was a member of the First United Methodist church in Wilburton, the Oklahoma Press Association, Wilburton Lions Club, on the KEDDO Board of Directors and a member of the Oklahoma Hills Board of Directors.

Florence taught in Eastern's Business Division during the late 50's, was active in the 20th Century Club and Wilburton civic organizations and worked closely with Fred at the newspaper.

Eastern's foundation has grown to more than $ 5 million since its reorganization in 1987 through contributing individuals, companies and corporations. This fall more than $ 347,567 in scholarship funds have been allocated to more than 400 students by the foundation to Eastern students primarily through endowed funds and the interest they accrue.

The Wilburton college foundation has provided more than $1.3 million in scholarships to more than 2,250 Eastern students since its reorganization more than 13 years ago. With more than 125 scholarships now available through Eastern's foundation and an increased number of classes offered at the branch campus in McAlester, entering students have an even greater incentive to find Eastern an attractive spot on the map to begin their higher education experience according to Smith.

Smith said scholarships available include the Eastern Presidential Scholarships with a March 1 application deadline. Fee waiver or departmental scholarships and the Eastern Development Foundation endowed scholarships have an April 1 deadline.

"Applicants are competitively selected by the Scholarship Committee for endowed scholarships established by alumni, retired faculty and staff as well as other individuals and organizations who have a genuine desire to help students financially accomplish their goal of a quality education," Smith said.

For additional information and scholarship applications, contact Scholarship Coordinator, Karen McCroskey on the Eastern Wilburton campus, Eastern Oklahoma State College, 1301 W. Main, Wilburton, OK 74578, 918-465-2361,ext. 303. To see a list of current scholarships visit the Foundation website.