In memory of an instructor
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 11 years, 1 month AGO
<p>Members of the Coeur d'Alene High School Class of 1958 and NIC alumni reconnected recently to make a $1,000 donation to honor their former instructor at both schools, Ray Stone. Pictured are, from left, front row, Betty Stone (widow of Ray Stone), Betty Hamlet Davis, Merle Hedge, and JoAnn Skogstad Nelson. Second row: Gloria Manly Jennings, Collin Annable, and Rita Dobler Hanson, and Nancy Davoe Runge. Third row: John Adams, Russ Brown, NIC Foundation Executive Director Rayelle Anderson, and John Showen. Back row: Bob Schini, NIC President Joe Dunlap, Cliff Fender, and Ron Yandt.<…
Members of the Coeur d'Alene High School class of 1958 recently donated $1,000 to help establish a North Idaho College scholarship in honor of Ray Stone, who taught many of the class of 1958 both in high school and at NIC.
"Most of us feel that our class was a special, close-knit group and Ray was part of that for two or three years," said Cliff Fender, class of 1958 member. "He inspired us to be better students than we may have thought we were capable of being."
Stone died June 17, 2013, at the age of 89. Donations from Stone's friends, his widow Betty Stone and the Coeur d'Alene High School Class of 1958 will be used to endow the Ray Stone Memorial Scholarship. Scholarships will be awarded in perpetuity to students enrolled in the NIC education program.
"I have heard more than one classmate say that Ray saw more potential in us than we saw in ourselves. I think that is a sign of a good teacher," Fender said.
Stone served as Coeur d'Alene mayor from 1986 to 1994 and was a city council member from 1971 to 1979. He was a World War II veteran and the leader/drummer of a local band called the Ray Stone Swing Band. Stone taught at Coeur d'Alene High School and NIC before becoming the dean of instruction at NIC.
Like many in the class of 1958, Chub Eastman had Stone as an instructor in high school as well as at NIC. Eastman credits Stone with giving him advice that put his life on track and being a source of confidence through his formative years.
"With his passing, we have lost a great human being," Eastman said. "He gave many times over what he was given credit for."
To make a donation to the Ray Stone Memorial Scholarship, contact the NIC Foundation at (208) 769-5978 or email foundation@nic.edu.
