 The Whitewright Sun Thursday, June 4, 1953 pg. 1 BAYLOR UNIVERSITY HONORS VESTAL FAMILY WITH SCHOLARSHIP Waco - Timie 11-year-old Louise Vestal of Whitewright was called to the platform of Baylor University exercises here Friday night. President W.R. White told her he wanted her in the Baylor freshman class of 1960, and just to make the load easier on her and her parents he handed her an envelope containing a 4-years scholarship worth about $1400. Nobody was more surprised that Louise and her foster parents, Mr. and Mrs. Rolla C. Vestal. And nobody is more deserving, said President White. Mr. and Mrs. Vestal are the parents of 14 children and they recently adopted Louise, as number 15. Eleven of the 14 older children attended Baylor. The Vestals and Louise had been invited to be honor guests at the commencement exercises. President White tributed Mr. and Mrs. Vestal for their role as Christian parents and then asked Louise to come to the platform. "I mentioned a moment ago," Dr. White said, "that only one of the Vestal children did not attend college. He was Louis Vestal, and he died in the service of his country before he had a chance for a college education. He left his daughter, Louise - and it gives me great pleasure to award her a 4-year scholarship to Baylor University, to be used when she completes her high school education. We want to be sure that this Vestal child has the college education denied to her father." Dr. White declared that "history of the Vestal family is wonderfully encouraging in a time so fraught with uncertainty and fears. "It is because of this record of successful living, which the Vestals are continuing daily, that we feel toward them a deep sense of gratitute and a sincere love for the way of living they typify. We want here tonight," Dr. White continued, "to express our own deep personal sense of thankfulness for people like the Vestals, who live wisely yet simply - who are cognizant of the true values of life and who have given to the world 14 children who will follow in the traditions and standards set for them by their parents." All 14 of the older Vestal children graduated from high school. Thirteen of them went to college - 11 to Baylor - and they achieved the record of four Master's degrees, seven Bachelor's degrees, and three business college diplomas. The Vestals lived on a farm near Whitewright until fire destroyed their home, and then they moved into town many years ago. Whitewright History Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |