Paris, TN — A scholarship to honor the late L. Don Ridgeway has been created and will be awarded annually to a Henry County student attending the Tennessee College of Applied Technology Henry/Carroll.
“My dad was a huge proponent of education and especially technical education at the TCAT campuses,” according to John Penn Ridgeway who is now President of TCAT Henry/Carroll. “His number one priority in both his personal and professional life was helping others, and he lived his life by the golden rule. We consider it a true honor that his friends have created the L. Don Ridgeway scholarship at TCAT to continue to honor his legacy by helping others.”
Henry County Native Bart Herbison, now of Nashville, said: “L. Don took me under his wing as a teenager and along with his wife Mary Kate helped me throughout my life, both personally and professionally. They are literally responsible for my professional career, and I know Don helped countless individuals in many ways. He put others first and used his reach and influence to bring greater economic and educational opportunities to Henry County, Northwest Tennessee and the entire state.”
With John Penn now the President of TCAT Henry/Carroll, Herbison said, “I cannot think of a better way to honor our late friend.”
Ridgeway served 18 years in the Tennessee House of Representatives and was House Majority Caucus Chair. An educator himself, following his government service Don became Director of the Northwest Tennessee Economic Development Council in Martin where he served for 21 years.
The first scholarship will be awarded this Fall.
Donations are tax deductible and can be made here: https://tcathenrycarroll.edu/about/don-ridgeway-scholarship.
Or checks can be made to the TCAT L. DON RIDGEWAY SCHOLARSHIP FUND and sent c/o John Penn Ridgeway, 16940 Highland Drive, McKenzie, TN. 38201.