UAFS bequeathed scholarship funds

A $50,000 bequest from a longtime Fort Smith couple will support scholarships for students at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith.

The gift will boost the Gene and Rosemary Rapley Scholarship Endowment, established by the couple in 1999, said UAFS Advancement Editor Judi Hansen.

Married for 65 years, the couple died weeks apart last year. Rosemary Rapley died in October, followed by Gene Rapley in November.

Gene Rapley served for 14 years on the board of trustees for Westark Community College, which later became UAFS.

The couple's daughter, Nancy Fagan, in a statement released by UAFS said her father was adopted and "felt he was just so fortunate." Gene Rapley "wanted other young people to have the advantages he'd been lucky enough to have," Fagan said.

Metro on 08/09/2018

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