Lt. Col. Bob Perry established a scholarship to honor his family and loved ones, including his late wife, Rose Perry.
Mountain State residents studying Italian at West Virginia University will benefit from a scholarship established by an alumnus to honor his alma mater, his parents and the family’s ancestral roots.
Lt. Col. Bob Perry contributed $78,000 to create the Joseph and Mary Marra Perry Scholarship, which is named for his parents. The scholarship will be awarded to in-state students at the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences in the Italian Studies program within the Department of Languages, Literatures and Linguistics. First preference will be given to students from Harrison, Marion and Monongalia counties.
“I am extraordinarily grateful for the generosity of Lt. Col. Bob Perry for founding the Joseph and Mary Marra Perry Scholarship,” Amy Thompson, professor of applied linguistics and chair of the Department of World Languages, Literatures and Linguistics, said. “This funding will allow students to pursue Italian studies, which is especially important, given the immigration history in West Virginia. Language study helps students to become competent global citizens, and I'm pleased that more students will have this opportunity because of this donation.”
Joseph Perry was born in Italy in 1905 and immigrated to Cooks Coal Mining Camp near Clarksburg, West Virginia, when he was about 8 years old. He worked at the United States Post Office for 40 years, while Mary Marra Perry served as Star City clerk and was involved in politics at the state level.
Bob Perry said his father was high school educated and helped inspire his son to pursue higher education opportunities. Perry said he was further motivated to go to college as a young golf caddy working in Morgantown, where he saw the early growth and development of WVU Medicine near the golf course.
Perry and his siblings ultimately fulfilled their mother’s longtime dream of seeing all five of her children attend WVU. Perry completed his bachelor’s degree in education in 1955 and master’s degree with emphasis areas in education and safety.
“I had so many opportunities at West Virginia University to enjoy the privileges and pleasure my dad did not have at this age with a first-class education,” Perry said. “We were allowed education through the West Virginia system, motivated through that system, and all went on to be college graduates.”
Perry had a memorable experience at WVU, where he was inspired by role models he met while working with equipment management for the football and basketball teams. He went on to work for the U.S. Air Force for 25 years, during which he was able to visit and experience Italy firsthand.
Perry said it was important to him and his family to establish a scholarship that aids students in Italian studies.
“We wanted to share our pride and our background, including all our education and the opportunities West Virginia University gave us,” Perry said. “I think it’s an opportunity for other students to enjoy what we enjoyed directly from our parents: the values of life, education, community and volunteering in the community, the relationship of family and community to ensure the continuation of the unique characteristics brought to this country by my dad and other Italian immigrants.”
Additionally, Perry and his only surviving sibling, sister Isabel Perry, wanted to honor their family’s legacy by giving back to the University that has given them so much.
“The most we wanted, my dad and the rest of my family, is to support the relationship between Italians and Americans by helping them be contributing members to society,” Bob Perry said. “The University is a golden stepping-stone for any student who attends not only through education, but also socially through friendships and relationships. I’m sure my mom, dad and siblings will be smiling down from heaven.”
Perry’s gift was made through the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University.