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For more than four decades, Bill Thomas gave his time, expertise and support to Lincoln Trail College. A new scholarship bearing his name will ensure that commitment continues benefiting LTC students for generations to come.
The Bill Thomas Scholarship was established with a $50,000 gift from the Thomas family following Thomas’ death earlier this year. The Lincoln Trail College Foundation and First Robinson Savings Bank each contributed an additional $25,000, creating a $100,000 fund that will begin providing scholarships in fall 2027.
For LTC Foundation Executive Director Bill Sandiford, the scholarship is a fitting tribute to someone who did much more than simply hold a seat on the Foundation Board.
“On any board or committee there are those that are engaged and those that are committed. Bill was committed,” Sandiford said. “He volunteered time, money and resources as a local attorney, often drafting documents or doing research on matters and never charged the Foundation for any of it.”
Thomas served as an active Foundation board member for more than 40 years. Sandiford said Thomas also served for decades on the board of First Robinson Savings Bank, making the partnership among his family, the Foundation and the bank a natural way to honor his legacy.
Thomas’ son, Kent Thomas, said his father’s dedication to the Foundation reflected the importance he placed on both education and the community he chose to call home.
“Lincoln Trail has always been incredibly important to him. Education’s always been important to him,” Thomas said.
That connection was especially meaningful because Bill Thomas made Robinson his home rather than growing up in the community. Kent Thomas said both of his parents were transplants who developed deep roots in the area, something he hopes the scholarship might help others do as well.
He said many scholarships naturally focus on Crawford County graduates, but he hopes the Bill Thomas Scholarship can also create opportunities for students who come to Lincoln Trail College from elsewhere and perhaps ultimately make the area their home.
“Hopefully, someone who accepts the scholarship, year in and year out, will move here, establish roots here and make this the place their family calls home,” Thomas said.
The scholarship was created with flexibility in mind. It is not restricted to a specific academic program or traditional use. The annual award will vary based on available earnings, with only income generated by the fund used for scholarships so the principal can remain intact.
Sandiford said that flexibility reflects Thomas’ personality.
“Bill lived large,” Sandiford said. “There was no ‘dipping his toes in the water to check the temperature.’ He always jumped from the highest diving board. He was always looking to improve the life experience of others.”
Sandiford said allowing future scholarship committees flexibility in how the award is used will help carry that same spirit forward.
First Robinson Savings Bank President and CEO Mark Hill said Thomas was also an important figure at the bank, serving on its board of directors for many years.
When the bank learned of the opportunity to help establish a scholarship in Thomas’ memory, Hill said participating was an easy decision.
“We wanted to be involved in it. We wanted to do something that was in his name,” Hill said. “So we were excited to partner with them to do that.”
Hill said he hopes the scholarship will keep Thomas’ memory and commitment to his community alive for future generations of students.
He said Thomas demonstrated throughout his life an aptitude for giving back, and the scholarship creates an opportunity for future students to learn about both the person whose name it carries and the example he set.
For the Foundation, preserving the principal of the fund means Thomas’ influence at Lincoln Trail College can continue long after those who worked alongside him are gone.
“Bill left a 40-year impact on our board,” Sandiford said. “It would be a shame to not carry his name and legacy on for at least 40 more years. Again, Bill was never simply involved, but he was always committed.”
Sandiford hopes the scholarship does more than provide financial assistance. He hopes Thomas’ example encourages others to consider how they, too, can make a difference.
“No gift of time or money is too small,” Sandiford said. “It is easier to write a check than it is to attend 40 years’ worth of meetings. But the impact they both make is substantial.”
His challenge to others is simple.
“Be like Bill and get committed to something.”
