Tickets on sale for VFW scholarship raffle

A couple weeks ago, tickets went on sale for the annual scholarship raffle hosted by VFW Post 2281. The post annually honors the memory of Sergeant William T. McCormick by providing a scholarship for Hot Springs County High School students in his name.

Tickets are $10 each, and are available at the VFW Club, 302 Broadway. Several businesses have donated items to win, and proceeds will go to the scholarship fund. The drawing will be in April.

Though committed to one $600 scholarship each year, lifetime VFW member Jeff Strong said the club did well enough last year to provide two. The scholarship is open for all high school students, though preference does go to those who are the siblings or children of veterans. The VFW has run the scholarship fund for several years, raising funds on behalf of the McCormick family.

McCormick was born Oct. 28, 1947 and raised in Thermopolis, and was a star athlete. He was also very scholarly and well respected. While attending high school, McCormick participated in activities including student council, language club and four years of T-Club, in which he served as vice president. He was a member of the National Honor Society, was elected senior class president and attended Boys’ State.

He lettered in football, swimming and track, and held the Hot Springs County High School track and field record in high hurdles, low hurdles and high jump. He was state champion in high hurdles and high jump, and was nominated “best athlete” his senior year.

In 1966, he was awarded the Kiwanis Scholarship, VFW honor pin, the Bausch and Lomb Science Award and the University of Wyoming honor scholarship.

After high school, in which he graduated 14th out of 107 students, he joined the military and went to Vietnam.

At 22 years old, and having served only 10 months with the Seventh Air Cavalry, McCormick became the first Hot Springs County Vietnam fatality. He was awarded the Bronze Star for valor in action shortly before his death.