Former Mayor Bob Bolen honored with endowed scholarship

Fort Worth, TX

3/9/2010

Former Fort Worth Mayor Bob Bolen has been honored with the establishment of an endowed scholarship in his name, made possible by a gift from The Sarah & Ross Perot Jr. Foundation.  The scholarship will be awarded based on the leadership and community service that Mayor Bolen has embodied throughout his life. Preference will be given to applicants who are or have been in the military.

The $2.5 million commitment for the Bob Bolen Leadership Scholars program is rooted in shared beliefs by both donor and honoree. The Perots and Mayor Bolen believe that higher education must be affordable and accessible. They agree that scholarship support is one of the most important investments one can make in the lives of young people. They also believe it is critical to develop young leaders to think and act ethically as responsible citizens in the global community.

“Mayor Bolen has lived by the philosophy that was passed down to him by his father of ‘Always leave a place better than you found it.’ This scholarship program will reward students who already have made the commitment to serve their community and their country, and who encourage others to do the same,” said Ross Perot Jr.

“We are especially grateful for this commitment,” said Chancellor Victor Boschini. “Sarah and Ross Perot Jr. honor Bob Bolen and the TCU community with their wonderful gift.  We are thrilled that their generosity will enable generations of student leaders to benefit from the TCU experience. And there could not be a more fitting tribute to Mayor Bolen.”  

Scholarships enhance the University’s ability to attract the most talented and deserving students.  For this reason, scholarships are the highest priority of the University and The Campaign for TCU – a $250 million comprehensive fund-raising effort. The Perots’ commitment directly supports the campaign and a $100 million Scholarship Initiative. More importantly their support will benefit current and future generations of TCU students.

Recipients of the Bob Bolen Leadership Scholarship will be chosen by a special selection committee.  They will exemplify the mission of TCU by thinking and acting as ethical leaders and responsible citizens in the global community. Priority will be given to students who have served in the military or who are currently involved in ROTC or other military programs.        

Robert (Bob) Bolen served as Mayor of Fort Worth from 1982-1991.  He joined the TCU staff as Senior Advisor to the Chancellor in 1991 and serves as a Visiting Lecturer and Advisor to the Dean of the M.J. Neeley School of Business.  He received the TCU Royal Purple Award in 1992 and the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Texas A&M.  Mayor Bolen holds honorary doctorates from TCU, the University of North Texas and Texas Wesleyan University.  He was the founder and CEO of Bolen Enterprises before serving as mayor.  

His tenure as mayor was noted for his leadership and ability to collaborate with corporate executives and public officials on transformative projects.  He also was the city’s driving force behind the creation of Fort Worth Alliance Airport and the 17,000-acre AllianceTexas development that surrounds it. That project has received national recognition as a model for public-private partnership.

Mayor Bolen continues his lifelong devotion to education and to providing opportunities for young people.  He is passionate about helping people and has been a mentor to generations of business executives, public officials, friends and students.

Mayor Bolen and his wife, Fran, have established scholarship funds at TCU and other institutions.  They funded The Beatrice Bolen Piano Scholarship in 2002 in memory of his mother.  The scholarship benefits piano performance majors.

In addition, the R.E. “Bob” Bolen Scholarship was established in 1991 by the generosity of community leaders and friends to honor Mr. Bolen for his nine-and-one-half year term as mayor of Fort Worth.  Mayor Bolen is involved in selecting recipients each year and 19 undergraduate and graduate business students have received this scholarship to date.

The Perots have been leaders in the business community and supporters of charitable and civic organizations in Fort Worth for many years.

Ross Perot Jr. founded Hillwood, one of the country’s top real estate development and investment companies, in Fort Worth in 1988. Together with its public partners, Hillwood created one of the country’s greatest economic development projects. In its two decades of existence, AllianceTexas has had an economic impact of more than $36 billion on Fort Worth and the surrounding communities.

Education has always been a big part of the Perots’ community involvement in Fort Worth. They helped establish and support education foundations for the local school districts and donated two school sites, one of which was named Bette Perot Elementary School for Ross Perot Jr.’s aunt, who was a teacher and principal in the Fort Worth school district.

For more information on the scholarship, contact Don Whelan at (817) 257-7785 or visit www.scholarship.tcu.edu.