Bonham, Texas – The Sam Rayburn Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2012 scholarship awards.  This year’s winners were asked to visit both the Sam Rayburn Library Museum and the Sam Rayburn House Museum.  Following their visit, the applicants were required to write about their experiences, as well as what they learned about Speaker Rayburn during their visit. 

The Rayburn Foundation awards two different scholarships.  The first, the J.F. and Marjorie P. McKnight scholarship is awarded to graduating seniors from Bonham High School. The McKnights spent several years serving the community of Bonham at McKnight Rexall Drug and the drugstore’s soda fountain was a popular after school hangout for children of all ages.  As close friends of Speaker Rayburn’s, the McKnights felt a scholarship was the best legacy they could leave to the community.  This year’s winner is Haley Walker, who plans to attend The University of Texas-Tyler.  Other award recipients are Johnny Edgett, Robert Wells, Levi Malone, Taylor Kirkpatrick, and Jared Miller.

The HG Dulaney scholarship was established in 2005 by Dee J. Kelly, a prominent Ft. Worth attorney and former employee of Speaker Rayburn.  Hand chosen by Speaker Rayburn as Director of the Sam Rayburn Library, HG Dulaney served as Director of the Library since its inception in 1957 until his retirement in 2002, when he was awarded the title Director Emeritus.  Following his “retirement,” he continued to work as a part-time consultant until his passing in 2009.  The Dulaney scholarship is awarded to graduating seniors from Ector, Savoy, Dodd City or Sam Rayburn high schools.  This year’s winner is Landon Darwin, Dodd City High School, who plans on attending North Central Texas College.  Other award recipients are Kaitlyn Massie, Jaylen Wallace, Connor Reed, and Shihei Williams, Dodd City High School; Kassie Shaw, Brooke Vidal, Justin Vance and Sydney Davis, Sam Rayburn High School; Ashley Reid and Miranda Mayo, Ector High School.