First Scholarships Awarded From The Dennis And Loy McMinn Charitable Trust
WATER VALLEY – Two Water Valley High School graduates are the first recipients of a new trust established to benefit the community of Water Valley and its young people. Dalton Kordik and Christopher Stanfield each received a $750 scholarship per semester for four semesters to attend a trade school. The award was made from the Dennis and Loy McMinn Charitable Trust.
Loy McMinn passed away in 2019 and Dennis in 2023. Dennis’ brother-in-law, Robert Turnage, is overseeing the trust and reports his directive is to assist the youth of Water Valley. Turnage also said the trust will serve the community for many decades.
Turnage, a retired superintendent, reported one of the priorities will be providing financial assistance for students who attend trade school. He also said the goal is to work with teachers and counselors to help identify recipients for scholarships.
“Dennis and Loy were always helping folks. They wanted to establish this trust that is designed to help young folks in this community,” added Dennis McMinn’s sibling, Kate Butts.
Dennis McMinn was a 1950 graduate of Water Valley High School and enlisted soon afterwards in the U.S. Navy. The couple were married in 1952 and moved to Memphis where Loy worked for many years as a hair dresser.
Dennis started a career in the railroad industry, first with Illinois Central and later for the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad. After living over 30 years in Memphis, they retired to their farm in Water Valley.
“Both of them had a strong work ethic,” Butts explained. “They knew what it was to come up the hard way. That motivated them to want to help others.”
Turnage reported organization of the trust is in the early stages, and the scholarships awarded last month are the first of many to follow.
The Dennis and Loy McMinn Charitable Trust will benefit youth in Water Valley for decades to come.
“The directive is for this trust to be used for the benefit and betterment of the community of Water Valley and its children. The trust can also be used for other opportunities in the community. I think we can go a lot of different direction with this, but the focus is going to be scholarships,” Turnage added. “Dennis really wanted to help young people.”
