Roy and Dollie Clark Endowed Scholarship

MURRAY, Ky. – The Roy and Dollie Clark Endowed Scholarship has been established at Murray State University to benefit first-generation students who graduate from Calloway County High School in Murray, Kentucky. The scholarship was established by Trisha Clark Cunningham, ’86, and Terry L. Clark, ’81, in honor of their parents Roy and Dollie Clark. This new fund will share Mr. and Mrs. Clark’s spirit of encouragement with other first-generation college students.

Roy Lynn and Dollie Dean Baker Clark always valued education even though they never had the opportunity to complete learning past a formal eighth grade level. After serving in the military, Mr. Clark completed a technical training course. Once the children were in school, Mrs. Clark went on to complete her GED before attending cosmetology school.

Terry and Trisha recall throughout their childhood how their father would always remind his children to “do your best” and “you are going to college.” While he worked in the maintenance department at General Tire, it was Mr. Clark’s dream to help his children attain their full potential with a strong educational foundation. Mr. and Mrs. Clark were frugal and saved what they could to attain this goal. Except for the birth of their grandchildren, there was not a prouder day than when their children, Terry and Trisha, graduated from Murray State equipping them to pursue successful careers. Mr. and Mrs. Clark encouraged and fully supported their children’s involvement in numerous sports, school, church and other activities and often coached or led some of the programs.

According to Terry and Trisha, the loving support of their parents and the gift of education are responsible for their successful careers – Terry Clark as an internationally-renowned patent attorney with Bass, Berry & Sims, PLLC in Washington, D.C. and Trisha Cunningham as a former global technology executive at Texas Instruments and now major nonprofit CEO at the North Texas Food Bank in Dallas, Texas. Trisha announced the new scholarship at Murray State’s recent 2023 Distinguished Alumni Dinner where she was presented with the Murray State University Alumni Association’s most prestigious honor, a Distinguished Alumni Award.

The scholarship will assist deserving first-generation students from Calloway County High School with tuition, room, board, fees, books and other related costs of attending Murray State University. 

"As a part of our Be Bold – Forever Blue & Gold Centennial fundraising campaign, we are striving for $50 million in new scholarship support for our students,” said Dr. Tina Bernot, executive director of development. “This new fund will help us reach toward this ambitious goal and support our students and their families as they pursue an education at Murray State. We are so grateful to Trisha Cunningham and Terry Clark for this wonderful gift."  

Contributions to the Roy and Dollie Clark Endowed Scholarship can be made by contacting the Murray State University office of development at 270-809-3001 or by making a secure gift online at murraystate.edu/giving.