A West Frankfort student at John A. Logan College has been awarded the Ken Gray Scholarship for 2008-2009. Brian Stoner, the son of Tony and Amy Stoner, will use the $500 grant to attend Southern Illinois University while majoring in Business/Marketing.
The criterion of the award is to live in Franklin County and have a commitment to attend SIU.
“I have had the pleasure of getting to know Mr. Stoner while he was attending JALC,” said Stacy Holloway, director of scholarships and alumni services at the school.
“He is a very fine young man, dedicated student, and someone who will continue to be an asset to southern Illinois.”
Stoner, a 2007 Frankfort Community High School graduate, was the second person to receive the honor. At a ceremony on March 17, 2008 at the JALC Extension Center in West Frankfort, Britney Woodworth was the inaugural winner. On that occasion, Gray, a former U. S. Congressman of historic stature, called it “A great honor to present the first money from the fund.”
In a letter from Stoner to Gray released by JALC, the recipient said, “I am honored to be the recipient of the Ken Gray Scholarship. Thank you so much for your generous support. I am continuing my undergraduate career as a junior at SIU and can already report my academics are off to a first-rate start. My plans at this stage are to complete a major in Business and continue on to work toward my MBA.”
Gray, a West Frankfort native, has spent a lifetime helping southern Illinois. He graduated from FCHS in 1942, enduring a baptism under the fire of World War Two. Employing a little white lie about his age, he convinced the Army Air Corps he was 18-years-old (he was 17).
He became a helicopter pilot and later, the only Congressman with a license to fly the whirlybirds.
It was not uncommon to see him flying around his district in the “chopper” and landing at the Gray Plaza Motel.
He did not fib about his age when he was elected to the U. S. House of Representatives at 25, the youngest member of that august body.
He served 12 terms and in the process was dubbed “The Prince of Pork” because of all the federal money he brought into his district, including West Frankfort.
Gray continues to work for the community and a grateful town has honored him with a street and the local post office named after him.
Through the efforts of State Senator Gary Forby, the section of Interstate 57 Highway that passes through his former district now bears his name.
West Frankfort, Ill. —
