Thomas Lee Russell Scholarship
Tommy Lee Russell was born January 21, 1941, in Roane County, Tennessee to parents Lillard Houston Russell and Ruth Dale Brummitt Russell. He was a life-long resident of Roane County, living most of his life in Harriman. On October 27, 1961, Mr. Russell was involved in a tragic traffic accident on the hill approaching the William Hamilton Browder Bridge in Harriman. The driver of the car was killed and his two passengers sustained severe injuries. Mr. Russell survived but had a broken neck and severed spinal cord that left him as a permanent paraplegic, confined to a wheelchair. Mr. Russell was still industrious and independent. Overcoming his disability, he learned to repair radios and televisions. Through the years he invested his earnings, mostly in real estate. He was a successful investor and upon his death on October 6, 1999 he had amassed a substantial estate. Because Mr. Russell had a great concern for young people with disabilities, he left the bulk of his estate to Roane State Foundation in order to provide scholarships to students with limited mobility and special needs.Impact
Thomas Lee Russell Scholarship Endowment Criteria:
SELECTION
The selection of the recipient(s) of the Thomas Lee Russell Scholarship Awards will be made through the selection process of Roane State Foundation. Award letters for the Scholarships will carry the name of the honoree of this award in such a manner that the recipients will understand the source of the scholarship funds they will receive.
SELECTION CRITERIA
The Thomas Lee Russell Scholarship is open to all applicants regardless of race, color, creed, or sex with the following qualifications:
• Recipients must be enrolled full or part time at Roane State Community College
• Recipients must be enrolled at the Roane County Campus
• Preference is given to residents of Roane County who have attended a Roane County school for one (1) or more years
• Scholarship should be given to students with physical disabilities with priority given to the following including but not limited to:
o * Wheelchair bound * or other conditions which limit mobility
o Para or quadriplegia
o Cerebral Palsy
o Spina Bifida