Friends of Freda Scholarship Fund
Upon her graduation from Osawatomie High School in 1928 a fund was set up.
When we started this fund to honor Freda Miller we kept it a secret from her. At the time of the presentation in November 2005 we had over one hundred names in the notebook which I prepared for her. More pages were added as former students, fellow teachers, friends, and neighbors made contributions. She enjoyed reading the names and thinking and/or talking about each person. Her great-niece asked to keep the book after Freda passed away.
Before the first scholarship award was made Miss Miller set up the criteria which included being a current graduate of OHS and planning to enter the teaching field. For the four school years in which the awards were granted FOURTEEN students were given funds to help with their education expenses.
Thanks to all who contributed and helped to 'pass the word' to make the Friends of Freda project a success.
Sincerely,
Anna Lee
A group of Freda's friends met with her at Life Care Center to announce that a scholarship fund had been established in her name. They presented her with a book listing the names of those who had donated. The following letter appeared in the Osawatomie Graphic documenting the event:
"As secretary of the Osawatomie High School Class of 1950 I wish to thank the employees of Life Care Center and the Graphic for participating in 'keeping our secret'.
When our class embarked on the Freda Miller Scholarship Fund project we wanted to surprise her with it which we did on November 17. With the help of many Osawatomie Alumni secretaries contacting their friends and classmates by telephone, e-mail, and U.S. Mail we were able to have a good balance in the account before sharing the news with Miss Miller.
But this is only the beginning! As more contributions are made new pages will be added to Miss Miller's notebook listing the names of her former students and friends. No amounts are shown. The names of the donors are also listed on her website. There is a link to her website as well as to the Graphic website from the Osawatomie Alumni website.
Soon she will be making decisions to set up the criteria for making awards from the scholarship fund.
Meanwhile she is enjoying reading the names and thinking about all the 'Friends of Freda'. This includes former students that she had in her 50+ years of teaching as well as friends, colleagues, and neighbors.
Thanks to everyone for helping.
Anna Lee Billam, Secretary, OHS Class of 1950"
In 2009 it was announced that the funds to honor Freda were just about gone. That year was the last year that scholarships were awarded.
In 2010 the final distribution from this fund had been made.
Scholarship Contributors
1923
Myrtle Wagers Erickson
1926
Ruth Reed Wrench
1928
In memory of Layton Gray
Bethel Reed Smith
1931
Veda Dickerson Day
1932
Marie Geer Gray
Helen Belle Dallas Shepp
1933
Clifford E. Price
1935
Margaret Shively Smith (neighbor)
1936
J.G. Shelden
Marie Skeens Shelden
1938
Deana McClure
1939
Dorothy McDowell Hewitt
Maxine Neuenschwander Long
Ruth Ann Yocum Nutt
1941
Marvelle Cockran Dunaway
Bertha Pinneo Lanning
(In memory of two 1928 classmates, William W. Eddy & Nadine Demastus Eddy)
Bill Peck
1942
Carol Lee Fausett Hieber
Evelyn Hunsperger Reading
Jim Roberts
Ralph Sellmeyer
Peggy Crowe Ward
1943
Max L. Young
1944
Betty Johnson Cohen
Erma Bratton Ellis
Don Filiatreault
Joan Walker Lanphere
In memory of Gerald Law
Ruth Nash Morrison
E.L. 'Arky' Thomas
James W. Van Horn, Jr.
Bob Vess
Gertrude Jacobs Vess
Wanda Fausett Willard
1945
Rachel Rothe Bauder
Homer L. 'Sam' Landers
Mary Lou York Roberts
1946
Billie Jacobs Bryant
John L. Carmichael
Faye Thompson Filiatreault
Paralee 'Pat' Tyrell Howard
Eileen Churchill Spears
Norma Loch Stephens
1947
W.R. 'Bill' Butler
Martha York Carmichael
Erma Crumpley Matteson
Rosalie M. Billhimer Van Horn
JoAnn Grimes Young
1948
In Memory of Jay R. Douglas
Marjorie Farris Gilchrist
Dorothy Cortner Heckart
(In memory of Charles 'Chic' Heckart)
Mark Manly
1949
Nan Porter Borden
Shirley Erickson
Barbara Findley McCall
JoAnne Brooks Hays Stone
Merle D. Stone
1950
Donald E. Beets
John & Anna Lee Price Billam
Raymond Borden
Nancy Cowden Brownback
Anna Faye Burkdoll-Parker
Joan Cook Carey
Robert (Bob) Carey
Betty Jo Case Cooper
Dorthea Clift Douglas
Bill Eddy
James L. Gilchrist
Eleanor Haigh Manly
Peggy White Mathis
James R. Parker
Betty Campbell Slusher
Park Wayne Wager, M.D.
1952
Howard O. Goodeyon
Juanita A. Brown King
Herbert L. Law
Leroy Millard
Doris Sechrest
John W. Weaver
Helen Butts Winters
1953
Larry Coker
Robert Haigh
Kathleen Ellis McDougal
(In memory of four former student at Crescent Hill country
school: Dorothy Ellis Servais, Gene Ellis, Vernon Ellis, and Keith Ellis)
Verna Landers Millard
Eugene Weide
Fred Wicke
1954
Carol White Ayres
Rachel Hawk Bolton
(In memory of Edward E. 'Bud' Bradford- 1954 & James J. Murphy- 1970)
Charles 'Chuck' Brown
Byron W. Harmony
Shirley Gillenwater Law
Carol Cragg Weaver
Keith Weide
Kenneth L. Weide
1955
Eugene Caylor
Walt Hays
Marie Ann Haigh Wicke
OHS Class of 1955, Judy Barrett, Sec.
1956
Vivien DeVore Barnard
Lowell W. Fairchild
Shirley Crozier Thomas
Ralph L. Wilson
George A. York, Jr.
1957
Gary Read
1958
Karen Barrett Caylor
Colene Carpenter Read
Diane Dollar Wilson
OHS Class of 1958, Sharon Barnett Burgoon, Treas.
1960
Vivien Latimer Hunter
Tom Speck
1961
Tom Coker
Ronald J. Goodeyon
Pat Buchanan Mason
Jack Weide
1962
Cheryl Smith Babcock
Joe Baughman
Merilee Roethel Baughman
Don Carpenter
Dick Vess
OHS Class of 1962
1963
Jeff Mourning
Bob Vess, II
1964
Jamie Demastus Engel
1965
Ramalee Ricketts Beck
Vicki Baughman Carpenter
Annie Piggott Bowersox
Jackie Powell Fixley
Connie Gonterman Huggins
Gary Vess
Bill Wittenbrink
1966
Patty Sullins Mourning
Cathy Vess
1967
Ron Barden
Jane Wolken Elliott
(In memory of Roberta Day Wolken- 1946)
1968
Bill Hays
Rita Griffith Schlesener
Jeff Young
Lois Manly Young
1969
Terry Billam
Joyce Henness Bumgarner
OHS Class of 1969
1970
Donald Land
1971
Tom Billam
Brenda Jo Hays
Alan Manly
Paula Brown Manly
1972
Dan Vess
1973
Richard J. Frolik
Pam Coker Green
1975
Kathy Kolosik Brakeville
David McDougal
Stan Newcomb & parents
1976
Robert Land
Suzanne Frolik Wilcox
1977
Shelly Coker Holm
Tanya Fisher Madden
1978
William 'Bill' Roseberry
1979
Larry Coker, Jr.
Douglas McDougal & Family
Tammy Billam Roseberry
1980
Rodney Madden
1983
Janet L. Buckman
Bryan Law
David Manly
1987
Elizabeth Stout-Rhine
1991
Staci Wittenbrink Flanagan
1995
Lanie Wittenbrink Curtis
Kara Hatfield
1998
Jared Walker
2001
Brandon Walker
2002
Sarah M. Roseberry
2005
Zach Madden
2006
Amanda Jo Roseberry
Lacey Madden
Family
Nieces and Nephews
Colleagues/Other
Frances E. Hays
William L. Lewis
Sue Speck
Connie Jo Anderson Wolfe
Osawatomie-Paola Branch of A.A.U.W., Jeanette Goedeke, Treasurer
Former Students
Dale Demastus
Gerry Sue Billam Law
Alvin Sharp
Howard Smith
Friends
Leo & Violet Bristow
Barbara J. Durham
Virginia Ellis Eddy
Mr. & Mrs. Frank Elliott
Dorothy Billinger Evans
Norma Goodwin
Margaret Hays
Ted L. Hunter
Allyson Ingle
Carl Ingle
Sarah Ingle
Charles & Amanda Land
Darbey Madden
Haley Madden
Willis O. Matteson
Andrew Phillips
Ernest L. & Lurene Swenson
Veria Achey Thomas
Contributions received following Freda's death January 2007:
Verna Lynne Barnett
John & Anna Lee Billam
Gary & Sharon Burgoon
Lanie Curtis
Molli, Cara, & Carol Chitwood
Mildred L. Diehm
Bill & Virginia Eddy
Erma L. Ellis
Buck & Pat Goodeyon
Frances E. Hays
Mr. & Mrs. Walter Hays
Paralee Howard
Carol McClanahan Knoche
Michael D. & Donnetta R. Kuder
Karen LaDuex
Mary A. Lake
Randy & Terri Madden
Shirley Ann McGhee
Andrew & Kara Phillips & Family
Nancee D. Rankin
LeAnn & Benjamin Russell & Blake Pary Wayne Wager in memory of Myrtle Wagers Erickson
Carleen Gonterman Seaborn
Earl D. Seaborn
Betty J. Slusher
Eileen Spears
Ernest L. & Lurene Swenson
E.L. Thomas
Douglas C. & Nancy Tyrrell
Bob & Gert Vess & Family
Bonnie Wallace
Janella Wittenbrink
Class of 1944
Class of 1946
Retired Teachers
Contributions Received in 2009:
John & Anna Lee Billam
Ray & Nan Borden
Charles Brown
Bill & Virginia Eddy
Don & Faye Filiatreault
Herbert L. Law
Betty J. Campbell Slusher
Park Wayne Wagers
Bob & Gert Vess