CHARIHO ROTARY CLUB ANNOUNCES G. STUART DOUGLAS SCHOLARSHIP TO BE AWARDED TO A CHARIHO HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR

RICHMOND, RI - At a recent meeting of Chariho Rotary Club, the Board of Directors unanimously named a scholarship after one of their original living charter members, G. Stuart “Stu” Douglas of Wyoming, Rhode Island. Mr. Douglas has decades of service on behalf of the Chariho community through his work in the local Rotary club. The Chariho Rotary Board and members are proud to recognize his dedication to our local community by naming a scholarship after this remarkable man who has served the Club with incredible distinction.

Mr. Douglas dedicated his life to education, teaching agriculture for six years at what is now known as Chariho Tech. He also was the Chariho Cross Country and Track Coach and won the Class C Championship in that sport. Mr. Douglas was in charge of the Adult Education evening programs at Chariho Technical Center and Chariho High School and ran the High School Equivalency program. Under Douglas’ tenure he oversaw a workforce development program for unemployed adults to train them in carpentry, drafting, welding and machine shop and for work at Electric Boat. Douglas also served as the Director of Chariho Tech, retiring as its Director after 30 years of service. Public education is extremely important to Stu and supporting the Chariho School District is equally as meaningful to him.

In tribute to Stu’s late daughter, Susan Beth Douglas-Koons, who was a Registered Nurse and a Kidney Dialysis Charge Nurse, and a kidney transplant recipient herself, the G. Stuart Douglas Scholarship will commemorate the incredible care Susan received from a myriad of healthcare professionals during her illness. Mr. Douglas’ wishes include this scholarship being awarded annually to a Chariho student pursuing a degree in a medical or health-related field. This scholarship will be available in perpetuity to a Chariho senior and one of the criteria includes an emphasis on the applicant’s community service activities.

“We recently lost Merrill Moone, a long-standing Rotary member and our Club was honored to posthumously name a scholarship after Merrill. One of our rotarians, Louise Dinsmore, suggested that we honor Stu Douglas to recognize his outstanding service to the Chariho Rotary Club with the thought that Stu would be able to meet a future scholarship recipient in person” said Dennis McLeavey, Chariho Rotary President. “Louise felt strongly that Stu, a former Chariho Rotary President, exemplifies our motto of “Service Above Self” and naming a scholarship was a fitting way to celebrate Stu while he’s here with us” added McLeavey.

Upon hearing that the Rotary Club voted unanimously to name a scholarship after him, Stu was nearly speechless and broke down in tears of joy insisting that he wasn’t worthy of such recognition. The membership respectfully stated that there is truly no one more worthy of such an honor at this time in the Club’s history than Stu Douglas.

 

 

OUR ANNUAL PASTA DINNER 11/14/23