The RICHARD COON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP has been established to perpetuate the memory and the ideals of Richard Coon, Jr.

A scholarship is presented annually to a Huntsville High School Senior who demonstrates commitment to Christian ideals, academic achievement, and service to the community.

This scholarship is administered By Covenant Presbyterian Church, where Richard was an active member.

2010 Richard Coon Scholarship Awarded.

 The Richard Coon Scholarship Committee, composed of Ray Hase, Grace Dailey, Jeff Baker, Meryl Smith and Tom and Donna Coon, awarded two scholarships this year in honor of Richard Coon. The recipients were recognized by Grace Dailey at the Huntsville High Awards Day ceremony on May 25, 2010 and recognized again by Jeff Baker at the  8:30 am Covenant worship service on June 6, 2010.  This year’s recipients are Lindy Reynolds, son of Drew and Lynne Reynolds and Morgan Schultz, daughter of Jimmy and Lea Anne Schultz.  Lindy is a member of Covenant Presbyterian Church and Morgan is a member of Holmes Street United Methodist Church

Lindy and Morgan have demonstrated that they live the ideals promoted by the Richard Coon Scholarship. They excelled academically and have had an extraordinary level of leadership participation in school academic, athletic as well as community/church mission activities. These accomplishments are great, but what differentiates them from others, is that they have reached a level of spiritual maturity and obedience far above the norm for their chronological age. They live their faith, and it shows to those who are around them. 

Lindy plans to attend Furman University where she plans to study Neuroscience and Biology - Psychology and Morgan plans on attending Auburn or Samford University and major in Pharmacy.

We wish them success and know that God is doing a good work through these young people.

The following students have received the RICHARD COON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP:

1989 - Andrew Gregory
1990 - Jennifer Rhodes
1991 - Shelley Gilliam
1992 - Mark Miller
1993 - Bill Lunsford
1994 - Margaret Harper
1995 - Courtney Mayberry
1996 - Martha Lynn Coon
1997 - David Childs
1998 - Elizabeth Styles, Nathan Oakley
1999 - Alice Green, Jason Rogers
2000 - Hayden Oakley
2001 - Cynthia Leia Gilmer
2002 - Lance Ingram
2003 - Claire Bagwell, Lucy Heath
2004 - Dustin Fowler
2005 - Lauren Green, Audrey Hoyle, Randall Mummert
2006 - Hannah Lanford
2007 – Elizabeth Hester, Scott Seitz, Courtney Sparkman
2008 – Missy Backus Thompson McMurtrie, Hardy Reynolds
2009 – Bethany McDaniel 

2010 - Lindy Reynolds and Morgan Schultz

Richard Coon Tribute –

Thomas Richard Coon Jr
Born: December 22, 1969
Died: October 15, 1988

Richard was tragically killed in an automobile accident caused by an intoxicated driver on I-65 in Montgomery at the age of 18.  He was a fun-loving, people-loving person who also excelled in academics and leadership roles at school, in the community and at church. Richard graduated among the top 20 students academically in his class at Huntsville High while taking advanced placement courses in English, Chemistry, Physics and Math. He received a four year Bellingrath Scholarship to attend Huntingdon College in Montgomery. Through an arrangement with the University of Alabama in Huntsville and Huntsville High School, Richard was able to take selected math and science courses at the University of Alabama in Huntsville and received both high school and college credits for the courses at UAH. He had earned enough college credits (including both differential and integral calculus) when he graduated from high school to enter Huntington College as a sophomore.

Richard was a committed Christian and openly shared his belief with others. He was a leader in youth activities at Covenant Presbyterian Church and participated in mission trips with Covenant youth groups almost every summer beginning in middle school. Richard was comfortable in relationships with people from all ages –from toddlers to seniors. Richard sometimes gave the “children’s message” during the worship service. His last Sunday at church before leaving for college, Richard gave his personal testimony to the high school Youth Group.

Because of the impact Richard had on so many lives, friends and family established the Richard Coon Endowment Fund in 1989 to perpetuate the memory of Richard. The Richard Coon Scholarship was established to provide a nonrenewable scholarship for a deserving Huntsville High School senior who subscribes to Christian ideals while demonstrating academic and leadership attributes. The award is made on a nondenominational basis, with the objectives being to encourage Christian lifestyle and behaviors and to help deserving Huntsville High School students further their education.  As of June 2009, $50,000 in scholarships has been awarded to 30 recipients by the Endowment.  This scholarship has been established through and administered by the Covenant Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, where Richard was an active member.

June 2009 Status Updates on Winners from the Past

Andrew Gregory graduated from Indiana University and the University of Alabama Medical School where he specialized in pediatric medicine. He completed a sports medicine specialty at UAB and accepted a position at Vanderbilt University in Sports Medicine. Andrew is the team doctor for basketball, volleyball and football. Andrew and his wife Lori are the proud parents of a daughter, Sarah Frances.

Jennifer Rhodes Villiger graduated Magna Cum Laude in Mathematics from Wake Forest.  She earned her Masters Degree in Statistics from the University of Georgia and was inducted into the honorary society Phi Kappa Phi. Jennifer, her husband David and son, Andrew, and their second child live in Douglasville, Georgia.  Jenny is a statistical analyst consultant for Chick-Fil-A.

Shelley Gilliam Hildebrand graduated from Auburn University in Corporate Journalism. Shelley and her husband Keith reside in Montgomery, Alabama where Shelley is employed as a communications specialist for the Alabama Banking Association of Community Banks. Shelley and Keith have a daughter and a son.

Mark Miller attended Clemson University on a CO-OP program where he graduated Magna Sum Laude in Industrial Engineering and was selected as a member of the Mortar Board.  Mark also earned a Masters Degree in Industrial Engineering from Northwestern University.  Mark Miller is still living and working in Chicago, Illinois and was married about 2 years ago.

Bill Lunsford graduated from Samford University and the University of Alabama School of Law. Bill is an attorney with Sirote and Permutt in Huntsville. Bill, his wife, Ingrid and their two sons reside in Hampton Cove and are members of the First Baptist Church in Huntsville.  

Margaret Harper Parker graduated with a degree in Biology from the University of Alabama.  Margaret received her Masters Degree in Physical Therapy from the University of South Alabama.  Margaret and her husband Ryan reside in Fairhope, Alabama where Margaret is employed as a physical therapist and also being a Mom to 3 year old son, Davis. Margaret and Ryan are members of Fairhope United Methodist Church.

Courtney Mayberry Reece graduated Cum Laude from Huntington College.  She majored in Human Development and Kinesiology.  Courtney and her husband David recently established their home in Huntsville, Alabama. Courtney and David have a son.

Martha Lynn Coon graduated with honors in May 2000 from the University of the South in Sewanee with a major in English.  She studied theology at the Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany and then received a Master of Fine Art (MFA) Degree in playwriting from the University of Texas in May 2007 She was married to Hannes Wieck on January 3, 2009 and resides in Austin, Tx where she works for the Austin Presbyterian Seminary.

David Childs graduated in Bio-Engineering from Mississippi State University in Starksville followed by  a Law degree from Florida State University.  David is practicing patent law in Jacksonville, FL. He and his wife had a daughter in March 2009.

Elizabeth Styles graduated from Auburn and is now Mrs. Tyral Key.  Elizabeth and her husband are living in Huntsville and have three sons, Jackson, Dawson and Mason.

Nathan Oakley graduated from Rocky Mountain College in December 2002, with a degree in Business Management and Communications.  Nathan is currently living in Billings, Montana with his wife, Chantel, and their two sons, Peyton and Brooks. Nathan and Chantel are serving in their church's youth ministry, leading Bible study and mentoring programs. He is employed with Hub International Company

Alice Green graduated from Emory Law School and passed the Georgia Bar exam in 2008. She has chosen to stay in Atlanta, Georgia and work with the Austin and Byrd law firm.

Jason Rogers received his BS Degree in Business Administration and Entrepreneurship from Auburn University in 2003. He is now a business analyst with S.A.I.C. (Science Applications International Corporations) and is currently working risk management on Army’s Future Combat System (F.C.S.) and Air Force’s Future Responsive Access to Space Technologies (F.A.S.T.).

Hayden Oakley received his Business Management and Economics degree from Maryville College in Tennessee.  He and his wife, Jennifer, live in Knoxville, Tennessee, where Hayden is employed by Regions Bank.  Hayden and Jennifer are active in the youth ministry at their Church. They are expecting their first child in the fall of 2009.

Cynthia Gilmer graduated from Cumberland Law School at Samford University on May 16, 2009. She has received BA, a MBA and now a JD degree. She has moved to Austin, Texas and is studying for the Texas Bar Exam.

Lance Ingram graduated from Auburn University, and he is employed in the Marketing and Public Relations Office of Robert Trent Jones Golf Corporation in Birmingham.  Lance is active in his church and is in a Christian band.

Claire Bagwell graduated for University if Mississippi and is enrolled in graduate school at Vanderbilt University studying to be a teacher.

Lucy Heath graduated from the University of Georgia and completed her master’s degree in December 2008.  She studied Library and Information Science.  She and Grant Duggar were married last year at First United Methodist Church in Huntsville.

Dustin Fowler graduated summa cum laude from the University of Alabama.  He has been a counselor at Camp Kanakuk in Lampe, Missouri (near Branson) and also studied Bible for a year at Kanakuk Institute. 

Lauren Green successfully completed her first year at the Harrison School of Pharmacy at Auburn. Lauren and Kevin Rass were married May 2009 in Huntsville. The couple will live in Auburn where Kevin is employed and where Lauren can continue her studies.

Audrey Ann Hoyle graduated form the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa in May 2009 with a major in Food and Nutrition. Audrey has decided to intern for a year with a college ministry she has been involved with at UAT and will spend the next year in East Asia building relationships with students at foreign universities.

Randall Mummert will graduate from Auburn next December with a double major – Spanish and Bio-medical, Pre-Dental. She plans to go to Dental school following graduation from Auburn. Randall has been active in her Church at Auburn and participated in mission trips to Mexico. 

Hannah Lanford has received a scholarship from Mortgage Bankers Association to attend summer school in Tuscaloosa this summer.  Her major is in Business and Finance.  She serves as the treasurer of her sorority and was elected to the Mortar Board Society this past year. Hannah will begin her senior year at the University of Alabama this fall.

Elizabeth Hester is studying secondary education for the arts at the University of Alabama with the goal of becoming a secondary school English teacher. Liz will study abroad thus summer at Oxford in England. Liz has been active in the RUF ministry at Bama. In the fall she will return to the University of Alabama.

Scott Seitz is literally in Timbuktu, a city in Mali, West Africa for several weeks, with a group of Auburn friends, helping to build houses. Following this adventure, Scott will study abroad in Paris, France for a semester. Scott will return to Auburn later this year to resume his studies there.

Courtney Sparkman successfully completed her second year at UAB and is pursuing a physicians’ assistant career path. She is working in Birmingham this summer as a Research Assistant and continuing her studies at UAB.

Missy Backus has successfully completed her freshman year at Auburn. Missy “loves” Auburn where she is majoring in education with a specialty in Math. This summer, Missy will be helping at home and taking a course at Calhoun.

Thompson McMurtrie had a great first year at Auburn where he achieved a 4.0 GPA in his pre-med curriculum. He was also an active participant in the RUF ministry at Auburn. Thompson plans to shadow some physicians this summer in Huntsville, giving him some first hand experience about the practice of medicine.

Hardy Reynolds excelled in his first year at Birmingham Southern making the Dean’s list and playing baseball for BSU. He also had a spiritual growing experience on his spring break with a mission trip to Honduras working with orphans. This summer, Hardy is helping Young Life with camp set up and then accompanying his Dad on a bicycle trip from San Francisco to Telluride, Colorado.

Bethany McDaniel graduated in the top 20 academically in the Huntsville High Class of 2009. She and her family are active members of the First Baptist Church in Huntsville. Bethany has consistently participated in school and community activities and has demonstrated a strong Christian faith during her career at Huntsville High. She plans to continue her education at Berry College in Rome Georgia next fall.