|
<< |
Back to Fund Listing |
|
|
Spears, Jr. Memorial Scholarship, Alan T.
|
|
|
The Alan T. Spears Memorial Scholarship Fund for Music
Who was Alan Spears, the young man for which this scholarship is named?
Alan was a gentle giant. A young man of only 17 when he and his best friend Shane Duncan both died as a result of a tragic auto accident near their homes in Milan. They were in the prime of their lives-one black and the other white- who loved their families and friends, and were inseparable as they grew into adolescence.
Alan stood 6’3” and was of a stout build. Instead of sports, Alan chose another path, music. He loved to sing, his voice was maturing and he was becoming an exceptional tenor. He sang in his church choir, the Progressive Baptist Church in Davenport. He sang in several choirs at Rock Island High School but was a proud member of Chamber Choir. Alan was taking voice lessons and six months before he died, he won a prestigious Martin Luther King Award for music. Alan and his music were of great inspiration to others.
He was involved with the Quad City Arts summer arts league project with many of our area’s most talented students. Alan performed at his finest- singing and dancing- a real ham with a God given gift to make people smile.
Alan was an active member of the Scott County Family Y. He was often there as a volunteer or just working out. He was becoming a true renaissance man in every sense of the word.
The music scholarships to be established in his memory are not just for graduating seniors of Rock Island High School who go on to study music in college. They will also be awarded to seniors from throughout the bi-state area who are active with their respective church choir programs, are studying music in school and plan to continue their studies in music at the college level.
Alan’s parents, Alan, Sr. and Martha Spears are committing ongoing memorials for their son to the Rock Island Music Association. It was this parent group who decided to create a lasting memorial in the form of a music a scholarship for Alan Spears, Jr. It is a fitting tribute as Alan was all about helping and caring for others.
|
|
