The Mary & Chester Bommer Memorial Scholarship was established in 2009 by Diana Galyen, Robert Bommer and Roger Bommer.
Mary was a graduate of the former Springfield High School with the class of 1934, and had attended Purdue University studying home economics. Chester was a graduate of the former Brookville High School class of 1934. They were united in marriage on January 21, 1939, at St. Thomas Lutheran Church in Brookville.
Mary was a lifetime member of St. Thomas Lutheran Church in Brookville where she had taught Sunday School for the Harmony Class; the W.E.L.C.A. at St. Thomas Lutheran Church; the Franklin County Farm Bureau, where she was Brookville Township secretary for a number of years; Brookville Women’s Club; Friendly Neighbors Homemakers; Springfield Township Community Club; Franklin County Historical Society; former Whitcomb 4-H club Leader; as well as the Franklin County Republican Women’s Club.
Chester was an active member of St. Thomas Lutheran Church in Brookville; was a former Seed Salesman for Funk’s G Hybrids; and a former 4-H Leader. Chester was instrumental in establishing the Franklin County Soil & Water Conservation District here and was a longtime member of the Soil & Water Conservation District, receiving the Conservation Farmer of the year award in 1980; had been active in the Brookville Township Farm Bureau; the Dairy Herd Improvement Association; and had also received the FFA Honorary Chapter Farmer of the year in 1966, and the Honorary FFA State Farmer of the year award in 1970.
Because of Mr. and Mrs. Bommer’s great interest in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Consumer Science or “Home Economics,” the children of Chester and Mary and additional donations to the Franklin County Community Foundation in their memory, have established an “endowed fund” for the purpose of providing a scholarship in their memory. The criteria for this scholarship follow in part:
- A student residing in Franklin County who has been active in 4-H. Consideration will be given based on the number of years actively involved.
- A student pursuing a degree in a field related to Agriculture, Consumer Science or Natural Resources.
- A student accepted as a part-time or full-time student in a duly accredited institution of higher education, pursuing an advanced degree.