The fortune of a man most Clark Countians likely have never heard of has helped fund more than $370,000 in scholarships for 55 high school seniors during the past three years.
James A. Holt, who died 101 years ago, left his real estate fortune in the care of Clark Lodge No. 40, Free and Accepted Masons. Holt — a member of the lodge who owned considerable rental property and a farm in Kentucky — left instructions that his money should be used to fund an orphanage for the children of deceased Masons.
The Jeffersonville orphanage had its last regular resident in the mid-1980s and its final temporary resident seven years ago, according to Mike Maschmeyer, the attorney for the James A. Holt Charitable Foundation.
The Masons decided that since the orphanage was no longer needed, that Holt’s money should be used to help children improve their lives in other ways.
“We’re just tickled to death we were able to get it done,” said Jerry Rauck, a Mason and one of three members of the foundation’s board of directors. “We really see some top-notch kids in here.”
“I think we’re following what he wanted, and that’s taking care of the kids,” said Del Livermore, another member of the foundation’s board.
Even present-day Masons know little of Holt. For instance, they know that he and his parents are buried in Jeffersonville’s Walnut Ridge Cemetery, but are uncertain as to whether Holt ever lived in Jeffersonville.
Without a trip to the cemetery to check his grave marker, even board members are uncertain of Holt’s age at the time of his death, though he would have been at least 77, given that he was a member of the lodge for more than 56 years when he died in 1906.
What is known about Holt is that he owned a farm near Frankfort, Ky., and nearly 30 commercial and residential properties in Louisville, most of which he leased for well less than $100 per month in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
When the scholarship program began three years ago, the foundation’s board members wanted to tread carefully into their uncharted territory, selecting two students from each Clark County high school for a pair of $5,000 scholarships.
During the past two years, the scholarship amounts have been increased to $10,000, while the number of scholarships now better reflects the size of each high school’s graduating class – Jeffersonville High School, for instance, now gets five scholarships per year, while the county’s smallest schools get one each.
Each January, the foundation asks Clark County’s nine public and private high school principals to solicit scholarship applications for seniors and to recommend finalists to the foundation’s board by the end of March.
Board members then review the applications and interview each finalist — there were 48 students interviewed last year for approximately 18 scholarships — and award announcements are generally made during each school’s spring awards programs.
“I would say 75 percent (of the scholarship winners) we’re 100 percent agreeable on,” said foundation board member Jack Wassing.
Scholarships are awarded on the basis of grades, leadership, moral character, community service and financial need.
“We do not want (schools’) top five students, because the scholarships are not based solely on academics,” Maschmeyer said. “We want good, well-rounded kids.”
The awards can be used at any college, university or technical school and are not restricted geographically or by academic discipline.
With its 2008 awards, the Holt Foundation will surpass $500,000 in total scholarships distributed to Clark County students.
“We don’t want to get into specifics (about the value of the foundation’s assets), but we’re confident that we’re funded for the long-term,” said Maschmeyer.
Board members said that in coming years, the number of scholarships or the value of them could be increased.
Clark County
July 3, 2007
Mason’s fortune sends Clark County kids to college
Holt Foundation nearing $500K in scholarships awarded
-
- Tighter Indiana drunken driving law seems unlikely
-
Local and state graduation rates see a rise for 2012
A second round of graduation rates for 2012 from the state will please some local districts while making others wish the changes were never made.
Continued ... -
Fun Faces At Clarksville Field Day
-
“Caution Light’ the economic forecast for rest of year in Southern Indiana
Southern Indiana has made progress since the employment dip at the depths of the latest recession, but there’s still some catching up to do, Indiana University Southeast economic expert Uric Dufrene said Friday.
Continued ... -
“Caution Light’ the economic forecast for rest of year in Southern Indiana
Southern Indiana has made progress since the employment dip at the depths of the latest recession, but there’s still some catching up to do, Indiana University Southeast economic expert Uric Dufrene said Friday.
Continued ... - Henryville playground to be built Saturday
-
Five times four: Five Floyd County schools get Four Star designation; one in Clark County gets nod
- Chautauqua Festival set for this weekend
- Grants available to increase investment downtown Jeffersonville
- Kennedy Bridge lanes to close again
