H2038 Congressional Record - House April 1, 1998 - commending Dr. and Mrs. Shelton H. Short, III, for establishment of scholarship fund

Sep 19, 2026

House proceedings from the Congressional Record (April 1, 1998) include remarks reflecting on Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy, the ongoing need to overcome racism, and the importance of equal opportunity for all. The record then commends Dr. and Mrs. Shelton H. Short, III, for establishing a $100,000 permanent scholarship fund at Randolph-Macon College, aimed at rewarding eligible students from Boydton and surrounding Virginia communities based on academic promise, character, and civic ambassador responsibilities.

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Pages2

Reading Time1 min

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Proceedings and remarks

Reflections on overcoming racism and equal opportunity

Commending the Shelton H. Short scholarship fund

Scholarship details and eligibility criteria

H2038 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE April 1, 1998 I think in all instances he asked us as Americans to be truthful, to accept the truth, to acknowledge the truth, and not to run away from the truth. Racism does exist in this Nation, and it is for us, as Americans, to work together to live in harmony. I think Dr. King would want us to do that. So the anniversary of his assassination is not a time of sadness, but commem oration and commitment to the fact that each of us will try to overcome the devastation of racism and the fact that we isolate ourselves from other groups. President Clinton’s recent visit to Africa, now almost finished, should signal the importance of Americans reaching out to all diverse groups. Dr. King would be smiling, and he would hope that as we debate issues of national prominence, as we speak around this country, Dr. King would want us to use his words in truth and to recognize that what he wants for this Nation is equal opportunity for all. Until that date comes, I can imagine Dr. King somewhere continuing his fight, his oration, his speech, his nonviolent way, but never giving up until there is racial harmony in this Nation. f The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. GOSS) is recognized for 5 minutes. (Mr. GOSS addressed the House. His remarks will appear hereafter in the Extensions of Remarks.) f The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the gentleman from New York (Mr. NADLER) is recognized for 5 minutes. (Mr. NADLER addressed the House. His remarks will appear hereafter in the Extensions of Remarks.) f The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. GOODLATTE) is recognized for 5 minutes. (Mr. GOODLATTE addressed the House. His remarks will appear hereafter in the Extensions of Remarks.) f COMMENDING DR. AND MRS. SHELTON H. SHORT, III, FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF SCHOLARSHIP FUND AT RANDOLPH-MACON COLLEGE The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. GOODE) is recognized for 5 minutes. Mr. GOODE. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to commend Dr. and Mrs. Shelton H. Short, III, of Clarksville, Virginia, for establishing a $100,000 permanent scholarship fund at RandolphMacon College in honor of Dr. Short’slate father. The scholarship fund is designed to assist students from Boydton, Virginia, the first site of RandolphMacon College, as well as students from surrounding communities. Dr. Short and his wife Jean are distinguished citizens and active participants in their community in Mecklenburg, Virginia. Their families contributed in significant ways to that community, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the Nation over the course of at least 2 centuries. Indeed, Dr. Short is a descendent of the late Congressman William O. Goode, who served in the body from 1841 to 1843 and from 1853 to 1859. Although I am not privileged to be a relative of the former congressman, he was a prominent Virginian who served as Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates and wrote the original charter of Randolph-Macon College. Shelton and Jean Short are to be applauded for their generosity and their commitment to the education of young men and women at Randolph-Macon college, an institution of higher learning on which their family has had such a significant and tremendous impact. Mr. Speaker, I include for the RECORD the article from the May 21 issue of the Mecklenburg Sun. The article referred to follows: SCHOLARSHIP EMPHASIZES R–MC TIES TO BOYDTON BOYDTON.—A Clarksville couple has honored the memory of the late Shelton Hardaway Short, [Jr. by](Jr. by) establishing a $100,000 permanent scholarship fund to Randolph-Macon College in his honor. As benefactors of the scholarship, Shelton H. Short, III and his Jean were center stage at a ceremony Wednesday night in Boydton announcing the fund. They were joined by Dr. Ladell Payn

FAQs

What themes are emphasized in the early House remarks?

The remarks stress truthfulness, working together to live in harmony, and overcoming racism through commitment and equal opportunity.

Who is recognized for establishing the scholarship fund?

Dr. and Mrs. Shelton H. Short, III, are commended for establishing a $100,000 permanent scholarship fund at Randolph-Macon College.

Who is the scholarship intended to help and what selection criteria are mentioned?

The scholarship targets students from Boydton and, if needed, students from Mecklenburg and surrounding counties. Criteria include academic promise and extracurricular achievement, but also character, manners, neat appearance, helpfulness, and ambassador-type goodwill representation.

Sep 19, 2026

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