Oney C. Hurt Memorial Scholarship
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Established 2025
Born on March 15, 1952, Oney Clay Hurt was born into a home where poverty and instability were the norm. In fact, things were so dire that at the age of 14, he left home to live on his own. Mainly staying with friends and family, and receiving local community encouragement and support, Oney took various jobs to provide for his welfare and make a living day to day. During this time, Oney developed his uncanny ability to look at the positives of life, never becoming discouraged, and always looking forward through hard work and determination.
After graduating from Franklin County High School, Oney took an entry-level job at Mod-U-Kraf Homes and worked his way up to Transportation Manager before retiring in 2014. Oney was a highly respected figure in the business community. However, his career accomplishments did not define him..
He strongly believed in self-improvement and the constant pursuit of happiness in all facets of his life (personal, spiritual, and business). Whether it was attending night classes to learn new skills, coaching Little League teams, helping friends and family in need, leading church groups and events, etc., he was always involved. Oney thought that you shouldn't live on the sidelines of life and get involved if you want to make a difference. He also believed if you were nice and cared for people, they would do the same for you.
Oney also understood the vital importance of education. Growing up, he witnessed firsthand how a lack of education could impact a family. He believed that having a good education is something that benefits you in all aspects of life. Oney strongly encouraged his two sons to finish high school and attend higher education. As a result, they attended Virginia Tech and currently have successful jobs as Civil Engineers.
He was also a dedicated family man who set a great example in his community. He was married to his high school sweetheart, Roxie Hurt, for 42 years. He was an active parent and provided a stable environment for his family, which was very important to him. Oney also believed in the values of Christianity. He was a dedicated servant of Doe Run Christian Church, where he held many leadership positions for many years.
Shortly after retiring, he was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. After a brief battle with the disease, Oney passed away on May 14, 2015. While in hospice care, Oney and his family decided to create a scholarship for a deserving FCHS senior to replicate the support that Oney received during his teenage/early years. If he were here today, he would probably tell all FCHS students to "remember to keep your head up when things are tough, get involved, and enjoy the simpler things in life". GO EAGLES!
Standards for Determining Eligibility
- The applicant must be a graduating senior of Franklin County High School.
- The applicant must be a citizen of the United States of America.
- The applicant must have maintained a minimum 3.0 GPA.
- The applicant must plan to attend a technical, two- or four-year college/university.
- The applicant must plan to be a full-time student.
- Preference will be given to students who demonstrate involvement in Franklin County school and the community, such as sports, clubs, activities, community service and/or employment.
- Any student who receives a full scholarship that includes all the fees normally payable by policy of The Community Foundation will not qualify for this Scholarship.