A new annual scholarship to a Fredericktown High School (FHS) graduating senior has been announced by the FHS Alumni Association.
The Morris and Sue James and Family Scholarship will recognize the distinguished careers of Morris and Sue James as educators at the Fredericktown and Highland/Marengo schools. Their fully endowed scholarship will first be awarded to a 2023 FHS graduate for $700.
According to a press release, Morris and Sue James, a couple who met in high school in Chesterville, have been role models since moving to Fredericktown in 1959.
Sue taught in the Highland/Marengo elementary school system, mostly teaching the fifth grade, retiring after 25 years of service. Throughout, Sue juggled the duties of being a wife and mother as she earned a college degree and then began teaching full time.
Morris started his teaching career at Fredericktown Schools in 1959; he had planned to stay for three years, but they all fell in love with the community and stayed on the job until he retired in 1996. Morris started his career as a physics, science, and math teacher and as an assistant football coach.
During his 37-year tenure, Morris also served as a guidance counselor, elementary school principal, junior high principal, high school principal and superintendent.
While busy with full-time jobs and three children to raise, Morris and Sue made time to get involved with the church and community right from the start, and have stepped up those efforts during their retirement years. Morris remains active in the Fredericktown Lions Club and Salvation Army and Sue with the Red Cross; each of them has received awards from those organizations recognizing their service.
Both have enjoyed a lifetime of deep involvement with the Fredericktown United Methodist Church, where Sue was a leader on the Hot Meals team. Not surprisingly, in 1999 Morris and Sue were named the Grand Marshals of the Tomato Show Parade, the premier Lifetime Achievement Award for community service in Fredericktown.
Both Morris and Sue say family remains at the center of their lives, taking great pride in being as involved as possible with their 11 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren. Sue hosts the family meal every Sunday after church where 14 are typically in attendance.
With such a deep belief in the importance of both family and education, it was an interesting question for Morris and Sue as to why they would make a significant financial commitment to endow a college scholarship for future FHS grads when they have so many in their own family who will also need a college education.
The couple chose to endow the scholarship to underscore their commitment to the value of education.
“I spent my whole teaching career at Fredericktown and we have benefitted from living in this great community,” Morris said. “Sue and I want to help Freddie grads with their next step in furthering their educations.”
