Scribner Bequest Boosts Scholarship Program

The Association was gratified to receive in June a bequest of $135,000 from the estate of A. Clayton Scribner, New York Gamma ’29. Mr. Scribner passed away at his home in Weslaco, Texas, on December 14, 2001, at the age of 94.

Having grown up on a farm without electricity or indoor plumbing, Clayton relied upon scholarships from generous donors to complete his degree in electrical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. His enduring appreciation of that financial assistance inspired him to make provisions for this gift to Tau Beta Pi which has been used to establish the Scribner Scholarship Fund. Several endowed scholarships of $2,000 per year will be established in perpetuity.

Clayton and his late wife, Lynette, were self-taught botanists and naturalists who traveled extensively after retirement to photograph and document wildflowers. After settling in Weslaco in 1980, the Scribners heavily supported the Valley Land Fund in south Texas, which Clayton referred to as a “mini nature conservancy dedicated to the Valley”.

Tau Beta Pi is very fortunate not only to receive a gift of this magnitude from a loyal member, but also to be able to use it to support the education of talented and deserving engineering students. We sincerely thank you, Mr. Clayton Scribner. You will forever be remembered at Tau Beta Pi.