Smith, Laurence and Mary Jane (Freimann) Scholarship

Larry Smith was born in Waterville and grew up in Ephrata, where his father was a city marshal who eventually became the first Chief of Police. Larry went to WSC for one year before entering the military. After serving four years in Korea he returned to WSC, where his final three years of education were paid through the GI Bill. He graduated in 1958 with a major in Civil Engineering and took a job in Portland with American Bitumuls & Asphalt Co., a subsidiary of Standard Oil Co. of California. Larry stayed with Standard Oil and its successor company, Chevron, for his whole career, holding many different positions within the company. He retired in 1991 as a District Manager of the Asphalt Division.

While at WSC (now WSU) , Larry met Mary Jane Freimann. Mary Jane grew up in Bellingham. Both her parents were alumni of WSC and her father, Levern, was an extension agent for the school. At WSC, Mary Jane majored in Dietetics, graduating in 1958 with a BS in Home Economics. She and Larry married before their senior year of college. Mary Jane and Larry had three children, Laurie, Stuart, and Valerie. In addition to providing a home for her husband and children, Mary Jane worked as a dietitian for many years. She had many other interests to keep her busy, including playing bridge (she was an ACBL bronze life master), traveling, and cooking. In 2004 she passed away after a courageous struggle with cancer.

To honor the memory of his wife of 47 years, to acknowledge the important role WSU played in his and Mary Jane’s lives, and to help future students with tuition expenses, Larry Smith has created this scholarship fund.

Award Requirements

Distributions from this Fund shall be used to award one or more scholarships to an undergraduate or graduate student from the following areas of study: Apparel, Merchandising, Design and Textiles; Food Science and Human Nutrition; Human Development; Interior Design.