SCHOLARSHIP
MCDONOGH AND THE MEURERS: Ruth and Charles “Buck” Meurer wanted nothing more
in an automobile accident. Paul, a sophomore at the
than for their three sons to have the best education
time shares, “She dropped me off in the parking lot
possible. The hard-working couple, he a Baltimore
behind Allan Building, and I said, ‘I love you. I’ll see you
City firefighter and she a secretary, were focused on
tonight,’ because that night was Awards Night. She
advancing the next generation. They valued academics
died less than 30 minutes later.”
as a launch pad and were committed to their children’s future success. When the oldest, Tom ’76, was in middle school, they learned about McDonogh’s scholarship program and applied. He was accepted and enrolled as a freshman in 1972. Dave ’79 joined him the following year as a seventh grader, and it was only a matter of time before the youngest, Paul ’83, became an Eagle like his older brothers. As scholarship students, boarding was a requirement, and McDonogh became their home away from home.
The McDonogh Family immediately rallied around Paul, who was present for the Awards Night program. “I wanted to be around my friends. I needed the support of my peers,” he recalls. The event began with heartfelt remarks about Ruth from Director of Religious Studies John Grega who was also a family friend. Paul won two awards that night including the Leadership Award—an honor he earned each of his four years in the Upper School. When he accepted the honors, the crowd rose from their seats with applause—a demonstration of
As Ruth and Buck had dreamed, their sons thrived
their love and support. “I had been around McDonogh
both in the classroom and in sports. In the 11 years
for about 10 years, so I knew all the teachers, coaches,
that there was at least one Meurer boy at McDonogh,
and the older kids who were classmates of my brother.
their parents were a familiar presence on the
It was what I really needed that night,” Paul says. In the
sidelines and at as many of their sons’ events as
aftermath of that day, the care from the McDonogh
possible. Tragically, in June of 1981, Ruth was killed
Family and the closeness of the Meurer family were essential to Paul’s well-being and adjustment during a fragile time in his life. Just as Ruth and Buck hoped, their children’s education was a launching pad, and the boys became the first in their family to earn college degrees. In 2000, Paul established the Ruth Flora & Charles Roland Meurer Scholarship at McDonogh in their parents’ honor. “My mom and dad dreamed of a life for their sons that would be filled with unlimited opportunity. They knew that the bridge to that kind of life was education. With the McDonogh Scholarship Program, their dream was fulfilled,” he says, adding that he believes in paying it forward and encourages young people to do the same. Paul says he tells them, “Someone gave me the opportunity. Someone helped me financially where I wouldn’t have had access otherwise. Even if you can’t
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Ruth and Buck Meurer celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary with sons Tom ’76, Dave ’79, and Paul ’83 in the spring of 1978.
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do it financially, pay it forward with your time and dedication to your school.”
