Perpetual scholarship honors Garrett
Though he died of a heart attack in 1998, former Warren countian James Allen Garrett will be remembered into perpetuity with the establishment of a scholarship in his memory at Tennessee Tech.
Memorializing his lifelong love and teaching of music, the scholarship will help deserving music students earn their degrees.
“My sister, Jane Stubblefield, and I are as excited as we can be about it,” said Garrett’s sister, Barbara Scott. “We can’t think of a better way to remember somebody.”
A graduate of Central High School, Garrett earned his bachelor’s degree in music education from Tech in 1959. A longtime high school band director, he most recently taught private tuba and euphonium lessons to the Midstate’s most promising musicians from his Hickman County home.
Upon his death six years ago, several of his friends and former students decided to establish a scholarship in his memory, said Scott. It has taken since then to raise the $10,000 necessary for the scholarship to be permanently endowed.
The scholarship, which will be awarded annually beginning this fall, will most likely be in the amount of $500, which is the annual interest earned from the endowment. To be eligible for the award, an applicant must be a current Tech student in good standing, a declared music major (preferably tuba or euphonium) and must have a minimum 2.5 GPA.
“We’re very proud of this,” said Scott. “It means his name will live on at Tech from now on.”
To apply for the James Allen Garrett Scholarship or contribute to the endowment, contact the School of Music at Tennessee Tech.