Scholarship Honors Navy Veteran and Offers Educational Opportunity

A group of shipmates from the now decommissioned U.S. Navy destroyer USS John A. Bole (DD-755) have established the “LT William G. Faris Scholarship Fund” in memory of a fellow shipmate. The fund benefits the Naval Sea Cadet Corps Scholarship program and will be awarded annually. The Naval Sea Cadet Corps Scholarship program, which consists of a “named scholarship” program, was established to provide financial assistance to deserving Cadets who wished to further their education at the college level. Since program inception 198 scholarships have been awarded to 188 cadets totaling over $300,000. Bill Faris served as the Weapons Officer onboard the USS John A. Bole in the mid 1960s. He remained active in the USS John A. Bole Association and was a driving force in the annual reunions of (then) Junior Officers who served aboard the Bole in the 1961-1965 timeframe. He passed away in Alamo, California on December 4, 2006. “Bill Faris, a great friend and shipmate, was always one of the first to contribute to the fund as he was aware of the Naval Sea Cadet Corps program and was so impressed with the young people in the program, and with the program itself,” said Robert C. Hurd a fellow shipmate and Congressional Liaison for the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps. “He stressed to me that he felt that fostering support for these kids was important and this is our way of continuing that support.” Hurd and other Bole shipmates, including Faris, made the decision to establish a scholarship fund at its reunion last spring. The group chose to rename the fund this year in honor of Faris.