The Amy Heryford Ousley and James Heryford Ousley Educational Fund was created in 2005 on the passing of James Heryford Ousley. Mr. Ousley grew up in Lakeview, Oregon and went to college at University of Oregon on the Daly Fund, a scholarship available to Lake County high school graduates. He lived most of his life in Los Angeles where he was a successful representative for a downtown Los Angeles office equipment company. Interested in investing, Mr. Ousley very deftly participated in the stock market which contributed to his estate substantially. Ousley, who was single, left his entire estate to benefit Lake County and Klamath County college bound students.
At the time of Mr. Ousley’s death the fund was estimated at $6.5 million. Since that time, it has grown appreciably. Income from the fund is used to provide scholarships for graduates of Klamath and Lake County high schools attending any nonprofit college or university in the United States. Scholarship committees for Klamath and Lake County were created in 2011 to commence the selection of Ousley scholarship awardees.
In the ten PLUS years of scholarship awards, more than $2.5 million has been given to Klamath County college students. Students awarded scholarships from the Ousley Educational fund can receive up to $3,000 per year for 4 years of college and sometimes up to 5 years for specific programs.