About us

Empowering Students Since 2025

Empowering Students Since 2025 to Honor Eugene McDowell's Legacy.

Who We Are

Honoring Legacy, Inspiring Futures

The Gene McDowell Scholar Fund is a public 501(c)(3) charity that administers the Gene McDowell Scholar Program (GMSP). Founded in 2025 by Kurt and Gloria McDowell to honor the legacy of Eugene McDowell, the program provides college scholarships to high school seniors. It supports students who demonstrate Gene McDowell’s values of perseverance, loyalty, and curiosity.

Our Vision

The vision of the Gene McDowell Scholarship Program is to cultivate a generation of leaders who, inspired by Gene McDowell’s spirit of intellectual curiosity, perseverance, and service, achieve academic excellence, overcome challenges, and make significant contributions to society

Our Mission

To support students who embody Gene McDowell’s lifelong pursuit of knowledge while overcoming adversity.

Our Story

Established in 2024, the Gene McDowell Scholarship Program honors Eugene Lou McDowell, who passed away from Parkinson’s Disease. Founded by Kurt and Gloria McDowell, the program continues Gene’s legacy of education, perseverance, and service.

Gene McDowell Scholarship

The Gene McDowell Scholarship

The primary purpose of this scholarship is to provide financial assistance to deserving students who exhibit the qualities that Gene embodied throughout his life:

Academic Excellence

High academic achievement, particularly in STEM fields, and a strong aptitude for both theoretical and applied knowledge.

Technical and Mechanical Proficiency

Demonstrated skills and interest in technical fields, such as engineering, mechanics, aviation, or other hands-on disciplines.

Intellectual Curiosity

A strong desire for learning and a passion for exploring new ideas and concepts.

Perseverance and Overcoming Challenges

The ability to overcome obstacles and achieve success despite adversity.

Loyalty and Integrity

A strong commitment to personal and professional integrity, demonstrated through involvement in community service, leadership roles, and a dedication to ethical principles.

Recipients may use the renewable scholarships to attend an accredited four-year college or university of their choice within the United States. Gene McDowell scholarships are not limited to any specific field or career objective and may be used to pursue any academic discipline.

Applicants for the Gene McDowell Scholarship MUST be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and a current public high school seniors at the time of their application.

Gloria and Gene McDowell

Meet the Visionaries Behind the Legacy

Founder, GENE MCDOWELL ScholarSHIP Program

The Gene McDowell Scholarship Program was established in 2024 to honor the memory of Eugene Lou McDowell, a remarkable member of his community who passed away from Parkinson’s Disease. Following his death, his son, Kurt McDowell, and his widow, Gloria McDowell, sought to continue Gene McDowell’s legacy by establishing a scholarship program in his name.

Remarkable Legacy

Who Was Gene McDowell?

Faced with a profound hearing impairment from a young age, Gene never let his disability define him. He embraced learning, developing a keen intellect that extended beyond academics. Gene possessed a remarkable ability to understand and repair complex machinery, from cutting-edge medical equipment at work to automobiles and even aircraft at home. His fascination with flight led him to become one of the few deaf private pilots in the world, a testament to his perseverance and his unwavering belief in the power of human potential.

Gene was a man of deep faith, a longtime member of West Hills Church (formerly Bethany Baptist Church), where he actively participated in the community and lived out his Christian values. He was a faithful volunteer at the Greater St. Louis Association of the Deaf and dedicated himself to educating others, serving as a Sunday School teacher for the deaf community.

Gene cherished his family, sharing a loving and enduring partnership with his wife, Gloria, for over 40 years. He was a devoted husband and a source of constant support.

A staunch supporter of democratic ideals, Gene advocated for public education, labor rights, and representative equality for all Americans. He served as the first President of the Telecommunicators of Greater St. Louis and past President of CPhone Inc., both organizations dedicated to improving communication accessibility for the deaf and hard of hearing. He was a proud union member of the International Association of Machinists, believing in the importance of collective action and fair treatment for workers.

Gene’s passion for learning and civic engagement extended to his love of politics. He was an avid boater and pilot, a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, and enjoyed lively discussions about current events. Sadly, Gene passed away from Parkinson’s Disease in 2012.

"A Life of Perseverance and Impact" (1936–2012)

Gene McDowell?

SCHOLARS by Number

GMsp stats

Discover the impact of GMSP through key stats: scholars supported, scholarships awarded, and an outstanding graduation rate. Each number reflects our dedication to empowering future leaders!

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