The Helen W. & Fredrick R. Eckley, Jr. Management Leadership Endowed Scholarship

Why the scholarship was established 

Because of their affection and respect for Helen Warren and Fredrick Ralph Eckley, Jr., SBC, Cleveland Ohio (formerly Ohio Bell Telephone Company), Industrial Water Technologies, Hazlet, New Jersey, family members {Deborah Eckley Briggs (Long Branch, NJ), Marty and Bud Cox (Kansas City, MO), Megan Briggs Stack (Hoboken, NJ), Dr. Robert E. and Tisha Yearout (Overland Park, KS), and Marcia Eckley Yearout (Swannanoa, NC)}, and family friends contributed an amount of more than $10,000 to establish a scholarship fund in memory of Fredrick Ralph Eckley, Jr., former president of Ohio Bell Telephone Company (now Ameritech of Ohio) and his wife, Helen Warren Eckley, Jr.

When Fredrick (Fred) Eckley retired as Chief Executive Officer and President of Ohio Bell Telephone Company, he had held senior executive positions with Northwestern Bell, Michigan Bell, AT&T Long Lines, and Executive Vice-President of AT&T. A 1936 graduate in business administration from Ohio State University, Fred lettered for four years in varsity football, basketball, and baseball. While he was assigned to the business office of the New Jersey Bell Telephone Company, he played professional basketball with one of the National Basketball Association's forerunners which is now the Los Angeles Lakers prior to the organization moving to Minneapolis at the end of World War II. His commitment to higher education can be exemplified by his service as a member of the Board of Trustees for Case Western Reserve, Kent State University, and president of the Board of Trustees at Ohio State University. His commitment to the community was demonstrated by his service to organizations such as the Boy Scouts, Businessmen's Interracial Committee, Cleveland Zoo, National Congress of Christians and Jews, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Musical Arts Association of Cleveland, and the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Eckley also held board positions on several major corporations such as Eton and Republic Steel. He also was an advocate of an active program of non-discrimination in hiring to provide equal job opportunities for minorities and women.

Born in Toledo, Ohio, Helen was Fred's loving and lifelong companion and complemented his career with an interest in both the performing and visual arts. An athlete in her own right, Helen was a member of the women's intercollegiate basketball team at Bennet College. She was always ready to assist her children and grandchildren in the pursuit of their higher educational goals.

Criteria for the award

Applications are submitted to the Department of Management & Accountancy prior to March 1 of the preceding academic year. Selection is based upon the following criteria:

• Department of Management and Accountancy major
• rising junior or senior
• demonstrate academic merit
• demonstrate leadership potential
• preference given to a student athlete
• demonstrate community service

Selection Process

A department selection committee will recommend a candidate for the award to the full department faculty. The name of the candidate for the scholarship will then be forwarded to the Office of Financial Aid by the Chair of the Management and Accountancy Department. The Office of Financial Aid will make the final decision on awarding the scholarship.

Award Announcement

The award will be announced during the Department of Management and Accountancy Annual Awards gathering prior to the end of the Spring Semester.

2008-2009 Recipient

Previous Recipients

2007-2008

• Benjamin Cole Buchanan, Management – Marketing, Baseball
• Ashley Elizabeth Wrightenberry, Accounting-Financial, Volleyball

2006-2007

• Kristina Elizabeth Havens, Management – Business Administration, Volleyball

2005-2006

• Lauren Beck Wingo, Management - Healthcare, Soccer

2004-2005

• Samuel Murray Roberts, Industrial & Engineering Management, Cross Country and Track & Field

2003-2004

• Samuel Murray Roberts, Industrial & Engineering Management, Cross Country and Track & Field

2002-2003

• Steven A. Cook, Management-Business Management and Administration, Baseball

2001-2002

• Jennifer L. Derosa, Management-Health Care (Minor: Sports Medicine), Women's Soccer