The Fort Graham Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution offers an annual scholarship competition in honor and memory of one of its members, Betty Fritz.
This year, the chapter was honored to award a $1,000 scholarship to Jillian Milam of Whitney High School. Her essay brought an everyday man to life and followed his family to McCown Valley in Towash.
Her essay detailed the life of her ancestor Alexander McCown, who fought in the Revolutionary War and had a son, Joshua Wilson McCown, who made his way to Texas.
She wrote, “Joshua McCown, at times, may seem to be a character whose stories and accolades appear to be larger than life. Having owned the farm, nearly 30 years before, on which the battle of Murfreesboro occurred. Transporting General, then President, Sam Houston and the documents for the Republic Of Texas out of the city of Houston to Washington on the Brazos. Commissioning the first and only trip up the Brazos River by Steamboat. Becoming the first Justice of the Peace in Hill County. Judge Joshua Wilson McCown was a force. Joshua McCown settled at the development of Towash, purchasing the Fleming Farm in the mid-1800s. All that is left of the once large tract of farmland is McCown Valley Park, which is located just outside of Whitney, TX, on the banks of Lake Whitney.”
This year’s essay topic was: “Select a figure from the era of the American Revolution (1773-1783). Discuss how he or she influenced the course of the American Revolution, who he or she was and his/her contribution to the founding of a new nation. Figures may be any person, whether a well-known figure or an everyday man, woman, or child who supported the American Revolution is ways large or small.”
The Fort Graham Chapter wishes Milam great success in her continued studies at Texas A&M University in the fall.
The Fort Graham Chapter was organized in October 2008, and Betty Fritz was an organizing member. At the time, Betty was teaching bilingual students at Whitney Elementary School, and she volunteered to serve as chair of the new Scholarship Committee.
To get the project started, Betty and her husband seeded the scholarship with its first $100, which helped the chapter raise enough funds to give a $500 award that first year.
The Fritz family has continued to contribute generously to the scholarship since then. So far, students from Abbott, Blum, Hillsboro, Hubbard, Penelope and Whitney have won the award.
Fort Graham Chapter’s scholarship application process seeks to identify students who exemplify excellent academic performance, diversity in extra-curricular activities, dedication to public service, ability to articulate value gained from out-of-school work or volunteer experiences, and a demonstrated plan for honoring their American citizenship and contributing to society during their adulthood.
In February, Lynn Hundley, scholarship chair for Fort Graham, invited Hill County high school counselors to share scholarship packets with their seniors. The chapter had 12 students participate from five high schools. Their portfolio and essay submissions were judged by a panel of non-DAR judges.
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