Bonham, Texas – The 2009 Sam Rayburn Foundation Scholarship recipients were honored on Wednesday, May 20 at the Sam Rayburn Library and Museum.  Friends and family were invited to join the Foundation in recognizing the accomplishments of the winners, as well as wishing them well in the future. 

Scholarship applicants are asked to write on a designated topic related to Speaker Sam Rayburn’s life and career, utilizing the resources of the Sam Rayburn Library.  In deciding this year’s topic, H.G. Dulaney looked to the current political climate and the difficulties President Obama had in filling his Cabinet.  As a result, students were asked to write about the example Speaker Rayburn set as an ethical person in the political arena.  Mr. Dulaney, Director Emeritus of the Rayburn Library and Trustee of the Rayburn Foundation was in attendance to present the scholarship awards to the winners.

The Sam Rayburn Foundation awarded two different scholarships this year to seven deserving individuals.  The HG Dulaney scholarship was established in 2005 by Dee J. Kelly, a prominent Ft. Worth attorney and former employee of Speaker Rayburn.  Honoring the man hand chosen by Speaker Rayburn to serve as Director of the Sam Rayburn Library, HG Dulaney, the scholarship is awarded to graduating seniors from rural Fannin County schools. 

The 2009 Dulaney award winners are Douglas Boney and Heather Johnson, Ector High School; Ethan Stephens and Megan Thompson, Dodd City High School; Preston Thompson, Honey Grove High School; and Adam Grant, Savoy High School.

In addition, the Foundation awarded a special scholarship to Bonham resident, Morgan Templeton. 

The Duncan School Award was given in honor of the school that was located on the site of the Rayburn Library for almost fifty years.  Named for James A. Duncan, long time member of the Bonham School Board, the school opened in 1903 and served first as high school and junior school, before becoming an elementary school.  Speaker Rayburn acknowledged the importance of the site and its history was a factor in him choosing it as the location of the Sam Rayburn Library.

 2009 Sam Rayburn Foundation Scholarship Winners (L-R) Ethan Stephens, Adam Grant, Megan Thompson, Douglas Boney, Heather Johnson, H.G. Dulaney, Morgan Templeton, Preston Thompson