SYLACAUGA — Thanks to the generosity of Harry I. Brown Sr., seven students from south Talladega County received $1,500 scholarships to the University of Alabama.Brown, a retired Sylacauga banker, started the Harry I. and Margaret Brown Endowed Scholarships to his alma mater to give students an opportunity to continue their education.
The students were recently awarded their scholarships at the annual South Talladega County Chapter of the University of Alabama Alumni Association.
The seniors receiving the scholarships were Kaila Patterson of B.B. Comer Memorial High School; John Alexander, Tiffany Nelson and Tamara Hamilton of Childersburg High School; and Joseph Barnett, Luke Jacobs and Alisha Weathers of Sylacauga High School.
Brown’s son, Harry I. Brown Jr., announced the winners, saying these seven bring the scholarship recipient total to 81 for 10 years.
The scholarship amount increased from $1,000 last year to $1,500 this year.
The total scholarship amount in 10 years is $84,500.
Brown established the endowment scholarship with the National Alumni Association at the university with his first $13,000 donation in 1997. The university matches the annual donation for the fund.
The endowed scholarship fund has grown to more than $170,000 since its beginning.
Anywhere from seven to 14 students have been awarded scholarships from south Talladega County schools each year since Brown started the fund.
His scholarship fund is one of the largest in the university’s alumni chapter system.
A 1948 graduate of the College of Commerce and Business Administration at the university, Brown has always been a big supporter of education.
In an interview some years ago in the University of Alabama Office of University Advancement magazine, Brown was quoted as saying, “I am a nut about education. It would make a big difference in Alabama and the world if we could educate people. That is why I make these gifts.”
Brown is a generous contributor in other areas of his hometown, from his church, First United Methodist, to B.B. Comer Memorial Library, where he has been a board member for decades.
After the presentation, students and their parents thanked Brown for his generosity.
“We appreciate what Mr. Brown has done for this scholarship fund,” said Michael Adair, president of the local alumni chapter.
