Kathie Dickenson
Radford University Foundation, Inc.
Radford, Virginia  24142
A Brother and his wife start a new "family" by establishing scholarship funds at Radford University.

Photo: Bro. George Dewese, 32°, and his wife, Matsue, have established an extended family by supporting scholars, like Deanne Dickerson (l.) and Molly Nichols (r.), at Radford University, Radford, Virginia.
In their retirement, Bro. George E. Dewese, 32°, and his wife, Matsue, have started a family. Through the George Everett and Matsue Yamazuki Dewese Endowed Scholarship Fund and the Ninevah Broombaugh Dewese and Daisey Ellen Moss Dewese Endowed Scholarship Fund, a long line of students will attend Radford University, Radford, Virginia, and demonstrate the impact of the couple's generosity.

George and Matsue Dewese live in Shawsville, Virginia, and are retired employees of General Electric in nearby Salem. They met when he was stationed with the U.S. Army in Japan and worked in the corps of engineers and the signal corps, retiring from the service in 1969. He then worked for G.E. until his retirement in 1989 when his wife also retired. Originally a member of the Tokyo, Japan, Scottish Rite Bodies, Bro. Dewese is now a member of the Valley of Roanoke, Virginia.

In March 1997, the Deweses committed to establish an endowed scholarship in their names at Radford University. The endowment assists students from Montgomery County, Virginia, with preference going to students from the county's rural schools, Shawsville High School and Auburn High School, who pursue a major in Radford University's College of Business and Economics.

The Deweses endowed the scholarship because they are interested in business and because going to college is a chance they never had. They chose Radford University because "it's a small college, and we thought students from the two rural schools we were interested in might have an easier time adjusting there."

Deanna Dickerson and Molly Nichols (pictured above) were the first recipients of the Dewese scholarships. "Mr. Dewese reminds me a lot of my grandfather, the way he speaks his wisdom," said Dickerson.

"Matsue and I are very happy," said Dewese. "It gives us a real good feeling that we're doing something."

This good feeling was increased in 1998 when Bro. Dewese and his wife committed to a second scholarship fund to honor his parents. The Ninevah Broombaugh Dewese and Daisey Ellen Moss Dewese Endowed Scholarship Fund will benefit students from Allegheny County and Covington High Schools who plan to pursue a business-related degree at Radford University. Bro. Dewese remembers when he was a youngster living on the outskirts of Covington, Virginia. Then it was not unusual for his father to walk three to five miles to work. Work was scarce, but his father "believed in brute force. If it was hard, he'd tackle it." Bro. Dewese's mother was a full-time homemaker and mother to him, his two brothers, and his sister. His father did farm work and was employed at various times by West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company and Industrial Rayon Corporation. There is a boys’ home in Covington, and although Brother Dewese's own family had little money, he remembers "Dad used to give them a dollar when he had it."

The family charitable tradition continues through Bro. Dewese who says, "I know there are children in Covington who are borderline cases who can't go to college. Maybe this will help them over the hump. I was poor as I could be when I was over there. I went to school many times with patches over patches. My hope is they will return home and work to benefit others."