Ruth and Bill Burton Memorial Scholarship

The Ruth and Bill Burton Memorial Scholarship Fund was established by their daughter, Shellie B. Evans, in their memory. 

Ruth and Bill Burton were both West Texans who knew how to live in honor of their church and their community. 

Bill Burton was born in 1923 in Seymour and graduated from Hamlin High School. During World War II, he served in the Army Air Corps as a P-38 pilot. After the war, he attended Texas Tech. Upon graduation, he moved to Abilene where he became an independent geologist. 

Ruth Crowson Burton was born in Amarillo but lived in Abilene all her life. A graduate of Abilene High, she was editor of the AHS newspaper, The Battery. Ruth and Bill were introduced to each other by Bill’s younger sister; they married in 1947. Ruth attended Hardin Simmons where she received her B.A. and M.A. in English. She taught at Madison Junior High where she sponsored the Madison Messenger and started Sagebrush Scribbles, a student literary magazine.

Eligibility

• Available to Abilene ISD seniors or alumni who have a desire to continue their education. 
• Attended an Abilene ISD school your junior and senior years. 
• Maintained a minimum GPA of 3.2 to 3.4 
• Planning to attend or enrolled in a junior college, technical/vocational school or college/university in the United States.