Endowed Scholarships
Barton Family Scholarship
The Barton Family Scholarship provides funds for students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in elementary education or a doctoral degree in educational leadership. Doyle and Pat Barton both grew up in Russellville, Ark. They were married in 1958 and have two daughters, Paula and Deidra. In 1968, the Barton family moved to Sherman, and became franchisees with Sonic Drive-In. The couple retired in 2001. Although the Bartons did not attend college, they recognized the value of a degree and made provisions for their daughters and grandchildren to pursue higher education. Paula Barton Griffin holds a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in early childhood education from SFA, and she currently is pursuing a doctoral degree in educational leadership. The late Deidra Barton Meyers earned a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of North Texas. Grandson Sean Michael Griffin is an SFA alumnus, and granddaughter Jenna Lynn Griffin also completed coursework at SFA.
Waymon Bullock Music Education Scholarship
The Waymon Bullock Music Education Scholarship supports music education majors. Bullock was raised in Lufkin, entering the school district’s beginner band program and continuing until graduation. After college and teaching stints in Diboll and Dayton, Bullock returned to Lufkin in 1964 and served as band director for the next 22 years. His close ties with SFA led him to pursue a master’s degree in music, as well as a 60-hour administrator’s certificate in public education. Bullock retired as Lufkin band director in 1987. In 1994, he was inducted into the SFA Band Director Hall of Fame and, in 2000, was awarded the Lifetime Meritorious Achievement Award by the Texas Bandmasters Association. He serves as an adjudicator and band clinician and devotes time to his long-time passion for designing marching drills and arranging and composing music. Bullock and his wife Kay have four children: Mike, band director at Jacksonville High School; Holly Jo, an elementary music teacher in Lufkin; Connie, a teacher in Lufkin; and Kelley, a resident of Tyler.
Jim and Lela Eaves Scholarship
The Jim and Lela Eaves Scholarship provides funds for eligible Lumberjack football players. The couple met as students at SFA and became faithful fans of the Lumberjack football team. The late Jim Eaves was born in Pampa and grew up in Longview, earning a bachelor’s degree from SFA in 1952. He participated in athletics for 50 years as a player, coach and official and was given an honorary life membership in the Great Southwest Officials Association. He also was selected as an inductee of the SFA Letterman’s Association Jacks of Honor and placed in the Alumni Association’s Hall of Honor. Lela Chism Eaves, a Kilgore native, received her bachelor’s degree in education in 1955 and went on to earn a master’s degree in special education from Texas Women’s University. She continued her studies at the University of Texas at Tyler and Lamar University in Beaumont. She had an exceptional teaching career spanning 50 years before retiring in 2003.
James M. Garrett Scholarship
The James M. Garrett Scholarship supports students pursuing a degree in chemistry or biochemistry. Dr. James M. Garrett joined the SFA faculty in 1967 and retired in 2005. His SFA accomplishments include the 2005 Distinguished Professor Award from the Alumni Association, the 2003 SFASU Foundation Faculty Achievement Award in Teaching, the 2004 Teaching Excellence Award and the 1991-92 Student Government Association Outstanding Professor Award. He was the first to receive the SFA Regents Professor recognition in 1980. The founding sponsor of the SFA Chemistry Honor Society, he authored and co-authored more than 20 publications and served as a reviewer for the Journal of Chemical Education. Garrett and his wife Mary Beth have three children, Dr. James B. Garrett, a 1990 SFA graduate and research chemist in San Diego, Calif.; Laura Garrett Davis, a 1991 and 1992 SFA graduate and former third-grade teacher; and Wendy Garrett Sowell, a 1992 SFA graduate who teaches kindergarten in Bryan.
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Stephen F. Austin State University Alumni Association P.O. Box 6096, SFA Station Nacogdoches, TX 75962-6096 Phone: 936.468.3407 Toll Free: 800.765.1534 Fax: 936.468.1007 Email: alumni@sfasu.edu Website: sfaalumni.com Sawdust