Former Fort Worth Mayor Bob Bolen has been honored with the establishment of an endowed scholarship in his name, made possible by a gift from The Sarah & Ross Perot Jr. Foundation.  The scholarship will be awarded based on the leadership and community service that Mayor Bolen has embodied throughout his life. Preference will be given to applicants who are or have been in the military.

 

 

The $2.5 million commitment for the Bob Bolen Leadership Scholars program is rooted in shared beliefs by both donor and honoree. The Perots and Mayor Bolen believe that higher education must be affordable and accessible. They agree that scholarship support is one of the most important investments one can make in the lives of young people. They also believe it is critical to develop young leaders to think and act ethically as responsible citizens in the global community.

 

 

“Mayor Bolen has lived by the philosophy that was passed down to him by his father of ‘Always leave a place better than you found it.’ This scholarship program will reward students who already have made the commitment to serve their community and their country, and who encourage others to do the same,” said Ross Perot Jr.

 

 

“We are especially grateful for this commitment,” said Chancellor Victor Boschini. “Sarah and Ross Perot Jr. honor Bob Bolen and the TCU community with their wonderful gift.  We are thrilled that their generosity will enable generations of student leaders to benefit from the TCU experience. And there could not be a more fitting tribute to Mayor Bolen.”  Recipients of the Bob Bolen Leadership Scholarship will be chosen by a special selection committee.

 

 

Robert (Bob) Bolen served as Mayor of Fort Worth from 1982-1991.  He joined the TCU staff as Senior Advisor to the Chancellor in 1991 and serves as a Visiting Lecturer and Advisor to the Dean of the M.J. Neeley School of Business.  He received the TCU Royal Purple Award in 1992 and the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Texas A&M.

 

 

Mayor Bolen and his wife, Fran, have established scholarship funds at TCU and other institutions.  They funded The Beatrice Bolen Piano Scholarship in 2002 in memory of his mother.  The scholarship benefits piano performance majors.

 

 

In addition, the R.E. “Bob” Bolen Scholarship was established in 1991 by the generosity of community leaders and friends to honor Mr. Bolen for his nine-and-one-half year term as mayor of Fort Worth.  Mayor Bolen is involved in selecting recipients each year and 19 undergraduate and graduate business students have received this scholarship to date.

 

 

For more information on the scholarship, contact Don Whelan at ext. 7785 or visit www.scholarship.tcu.edu.