A Gift of Trust - T.H. Edney Scholarship Endowment Remembers Pioneer Crestview Couple

03/14/2005

The year was 1917 when T.H. and Minnie Edney pulled into Crestview to become manager for Crestview Ford. Over the years he would be an agent for an oil company, a hardware store owner and realtor while she taught school. In the 1920s, T.H. Edney served as mayor of Crestview and in the 1930s tried his hand as a politician in the state legislature.

But, it was Crestview and its people that T.H. Edney cared for the most. As one person put it: "Mr. Edney was known for his honesty and consideration for the little man' in his business transactions."

If there was one other thing that Edney cared for as much, it was education. In his will, the Crestview civic leader left a sizeable amount--at least by 1966 standards--to fund the T.H. Edney Scholarship Trust.

"The principle objective of Mr. Edney in designating these proceeds from his estate to be used in this fashion was to assist each qualifying individual who is willing to put forth the necessary effort to attain his or her highest aspiration," said Don Varner, chairman of the T.H. Edney Scholarship Fund Committee.

Varner said the committee recently approved a recommendation by trustee Joan Sisneros of Synovus Trust Company that the T.H. Edney Scholarship trust assets in excess of $135,000 be transferred to the Okaloosa-Walton College Foundation to create the T.H. Scholarship Endowment.

"It just makes sense for the college foundation to administer the Edney Scholarship fund for several reasons," said Varner. "The biggest reason is the state matching funds that double the amount in the fund. That allows more Edney Scholarships to be awarded. Managing a scholarship program is what the foundation does. I think this is something of which the Edneys would be very proud."

Sisneros agreed. "I have worked with other clients who have scholarship endowments at O-W and this is quite a bargain when the state will match your contribution $1-to-$1," she said. "Synovus has been pleased to work with the T.H. Edney Scholarship Committee over the years. As trustee I couldn't let us pass up the opportunity to grow the Edney Scholarships through the OWC Foundation."

Varner also saluted the efforts of the Edney Committee including Joe McLain, Margaret Crozier, Clarence Mayo, Morris Rogers, Samuel Allen, former OWJC president Dr. Ed McCracken and committee secretary Carolyne Laux. "These people have worked hard over the years as have their predecessors to make sure the Edney awards were made," he said.

Dale Rice Jr., president of the OWC Foundation, said, "From what I've heard and read over the years, the Edneys were pioneers and mainstays of business and civic activity in the Crestview area. The foundation really appreciates the trust gift, and we're excited about the opportunity to provide Edney Scholarships made possible by this contribution."

Dr. Bob Richburg, OWC president, noted that many Edney scholarship recipients have attended O-W over the years. "I thank the members of the T.H. Edney Trust Scholarship Committee for their work and their decision to bring the trust to the OWC Foundation," said Richburg.

Depending on the trust assets, Richburg said as many as four or five Edney Scholarships will be awarded each year. He said a special feature of the Edney Trust Endowment is it allows for Edney recipients who graduate from OWC and who attend one of Florida's ten state universities to also receive scholarships of $1,500 per year for two additional years of upper division study.