When my husband, Bill F. Davis, passed away in November 2001, our family wanted to do something in his memory that would be lasting and would benefit others. We suggested that in lieu of flowers, friends and family might donate to a scholarship fund. We wanted to provide a college scholarship to some deserving Wylie senior each year. Bill was very interested in public education and often said that “education opens the door to opportunity”. He served on the Wylie School Board for 15 years from 1968 until 1983, including the last 3 years as president. Bill did not have the opportunity to go to college when he graduated from high school, but after serving the U.S. Navy, he attended college on the GI Bill. He graduated with a degree in accounting and later became a Certified Public Accountant.

Setting up a scholarship fund was a new experience for our family. There were many responsibilities like legal and tax laws that had to be followed. Each year our family added to the scholarship fund and we were able to give one or two scholarships each year. As we learned more about the Wylie Education Foundation, we decided to transfer the Bill F. Davis Scholarship funds to the Wylie Education Foundation Endowment Fund. We feel confident that capable and trustworthy people manage these endowment funds and, therefore, we are relieved of some of the responsibilities of managing the Scholarship Fund ourselves. The fact that this endowment will continue to fund scholarships for many generations of Wylie students is the reason we decided to establish an endowment with the Wylie Education Foundation.

I would encourage others to consider establishing an endowment with the Wylie Education Foundation. It is a blessing to see others benefit from additional educational opportunities as well as feeling that you are participating in and giving back to this community that has meant so much to our family.

 

Sincerely,

Mary Davis