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November 30, 2006 William W. and Helen E. Roberts Nursing Scholarship Established The late William "Bill" Roberts of Murray, in honor of his late wife Helen Roberts, wished to establish the William W. and Helen E. Roberts Nursing Scholarship for Murray State University nursing students. Helen, a retired nurse and volunteer of Murray Calloway County Hospital, and Bill, former employee of McKeel Equipment Co., deeply cherished the Murray community. In turn, they desired to give back to the community that brought many blessings to their lives. The scholarship will be rewarded to outstanding nursing students, with preference given to students with a financial need and who plan to seek employment at Murray Calloway County Hospital after graduation. Applicants must have a minimum grade point average of 2.5, and recipients of the scholarship may reapply. Bill, originally from Indianapolis, moved to Washington, Ill. with his family where he later met Helen, who grew up on the family farm on the edge of town. The couple spent most of their married years together in Decatur, Ill. The Roberts have three children, Doug of Centralia, Ill., Christie and Brad, both of Decatur, along with nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. The Roberts moved to Murray after Bill retired from AllState Insurance, and Helen from St. Mary's Hospital in Decatur. On the way back from a visit to Florida, where they were considering retiring, Bill and Helen stopped in Murray. It was their good friend Coleman McKeel who convinced the couple to make Murray their permanent home. The Roberts may have come to Murray to retire, but their working career was far from over. Bill, a former manager for the J.I. Case Co., soon found part-time employment with McKeel Equipment Co. When Helen interviewed with the Murray Calloway County Hospital director of nursing, she was hired on the spot, and asked to begin work that same day. Helen, despite being small in stature, worked in the emergency room of the hospital, and was soon given the nickname "bouncer" for her ability to handle difficult patients and their family. Immediately after her retirement from the hospital, she began volunteering at MCCH. To everyone who knew them, Fuzzy and Tiny as they were lovingly called, were caring, well-rounded Christians who gave much of themselves but wanted nothing in return. As active members of the Murray community, they attended First United Methodist Church where Bill served as treasurer. They held season tickets to Play House in the Park and helped MSU students move into their dorms every spring. Close friends and fellow church members, Alvin and Martha Crafton of Murray, truly miss their special friends. "Having known Helen and Bill for only a few short years of their lives, we became very good friends. It did not take us long to understand that they were very family oriented and were quick to show us recent photos of their new grandchildren. They were very private people and never wanted anyone to go out of their way to help them out, even when it seemed to be a necessity," says the Craftons. "They did not want any praise for their deeds." Favorite pastimes of the Roberts were gardening and the upkeep of their four-acre lawn. According to Martha Crafton, Bill often commented, "The way I help Helen in the yard is to stay out of her way." Helen would often leave fresh vegetables on her neighbors' doorsteps, leaving them to guess where they came from. Bill and Helen particularly enjoyed admiring the hummingbirds that gathered around the feeders on their sun porch. Filled with Helen's special nectar recipe, the birds often consumed up to 10 pounds of sugar per week. "During the summer, birds by the dozens flocked to their porch and Helen and Bill enjoyed watching them in the late afternoon," says Martha Crafton. The Roberts family believes this scholarship to be an enduring memorial to their mother and father. Though neither attended MSU, they were strong supporters of the University and the nursing program. Helen was thankful that nursing allowed her to lend a hand to so many in need. Her legacy of compassion lives in MSU nursing students of today and tomorrow. For more information on the William W. and Helen E. Roberts Nursing Scholarship and other endowments, contact Bob Jackson, associate vice president of development and governmental relations, at 270-809-3033 or toll free at 1-877-282-0033, or by email at bob.jackson@murraystate.edu.
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