Thanks to a generous dona­tion, a few Farmersville students will have some help with their post-graduation plans.

The James “Shug” Stanford estate donated $150,000 to the Farmersville ISD Ex-Students’ Association. Francis Hickman, treasure of the association, re­ported that it will be used for scholarships.

Standford was a life-long Farmersville resident whose family has lived in the area for more than a century. He also donated $750,000 to the school district after his death.

According to his great-niece Marilyn Smith, Stanford had a passion for students and wants to help them through scholar­ships as well as updated facili­ties.

“When thinking about what his money could go to, Shug latched onto education,” she said. “We’d love to see Farmers­ville kids go to college and trade school, and have some help in bettering their lives.”

Farmersville Ex-Students’ Association, a 501(c)(3) non­profit, was created in 1992. All FHS graduates may purchase a yearly or lifetime membership. It currently has 167 members who have school reunions every five years, and hold other events when money permits.

Stanford died in 2016 at the age of 87.

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Morgan Howard • [email protected]