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Boardman group seeks scholarship to honor Brownlee
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN — Star Boardman High School athlete George Brownlee died in 1972, but his life left such an impression on those who knew him and knew of him that a group of them wants to reinstitute a scholarship in his name.
Brownlee graduated in 1970, and died of a brain tumor in 1972, while a student at the University of Cincinnati.
“When I think back on George, he was a rather large guy and a great athlete who always had a smile on his face,” said Larry Saxton, committee member and former coach and administrator. “He just had this I Can Do, We can Do attitude.”
Brownlee was a leader, always concerned about helping others and selected by his teammates as captain of the varsity football, track and basketball teams his senior year, Saxton said.
Fellow students, coaches, administrators and community members canvassed door to door after his death to raise money for a scholarship in his name.
The scholarship was awarded to 32 BHS graduates over the years who demonstrated leadership, friendship, enthusiasm, team spirit, industriousness and humility. But because the original funds were depleted with time, it hasn’t been awarded for the last three years.
“Only interest could be used for the scholarships,” Saxton said “It started out as a $500 scholarship and as that became a rather insignificant amount for a scholarship, the amount gradually increased to the point where the principal didn’t generate enough money” to continue the scholarship.
After the scholarship amount increased to $1,000, the amount in the trust is about $3,000.
About six months ago, Saxton and a handful of others decided they wanted to revive the scholarship.
“We’re doing a letter solicitation,” said Debbie Chick, a 1970 BHS grad and committee member. “We got a list of George’s classmates and we’re sending 426 letters to classmates plus 330 letters to athletes and the classes two years before he graduated and two years after he graduated.”
The goal is to raise $50,000 to award a scholarship this year of at least $1,000.
To be eligible, students must be Boardman seniors who participate in athletics, demonstrate an economic need and show leadership, friendship, enthusiasm, team spirit, industriousness and humility. Recipients will be chosen by a committee of school officers.
A Chinese or silent auction is planned at the annual Boardman Hall of Fame dinner Sept. 21 at The Georgetown to raise money for the scholarship, and tables with literature are planned at each home football game.
“The response so far has been very positive in the community,” said Bev Olson, another member of the committee.
A Web site, www.georgebrownlee.com, has been established to aid the fund-raising effort. The plan is to post stories and photographs, names of contributors and past scholarship recipients on the site, said committee member and 1970 graduate Karen Kreps. To offer a story or photo, e-mail georgebrownlee70@aol.com.
To donate, write the Boardman High School Athletic Dept., George Brownlee Scholarship Fund, 7777 Glenwood Ave., Boardman 44512, Attention: Jim Fox. Make checks payable to the Boardman Booster Club with George Brownlee Scholarship Fund in the memo line.
Committee members hope a scholarship can be awarded to a member of the 2009 BHS class.
Frank D’Apolito, a member of the class of 1974, received the first Brownlee scholarship. He went on to become a doctor of optometry.
“I was highly honored,” said D’Apolito, also a committee member. “I thought that there were other people who could have gotten it, but I was very honored to get it. It was highly regarded.”
Some of the committee members didn’t know Brownlee personally but say they want to help keep his memory alive with the scholarship.
Jim Fox, a former school district athletic director who serves as committee treasurer, came to the district in 1972, the same year Brownlee died.
He didn’t know Brownlee but says his influence remained with the student athletes and teams.
“In track, he was almost a legend,” Fox said.