W. Denzel & Ernestine A. Kee Scholarship Fund
The W. Denzel and Ernestine A. Kee Scholarship Fund provides annual scholarships to graduating seniors at Tucker County High School, with preference for students from Hambleton, Hendricks, and Parsons, West Virginia, in memory of the Kee family's commitment to education and community.
TYPE OF FUND: Scholarship
DATE ESTABLISHED: January 6, 2000
PURPOSE: To honor the memory of W. Denzel Kee (1912–1999) and Ernestine Sine Kee (1916–1992) by providing scholarships in their name, with a preference for students first from the Hambleton, WV area, second from the Hendricks, WV area, and lastly from the Parsons, WV area. If there are no eligible students from these three communities, then any Tucker County High School graduating senior may apply.
DISTRIBUTION: Selection of recipients will be made by the TCF Scholarship Committee, with approval by the board of directors. Mr. Kee wishes to be notified each year if there are not sufficient investment earnings to fund a scholarship at least at the $400–$500 level.
VARIANCE POWER: If, in the judgment of the TCF Board of Directors, the restrictions and conditions of the fund become unnecessary, incapable of fulfillment or inconsistent with the charitable needs of the community, the TCF Board of Directors maintains the right to modify the terms of this fund.
FUNDING: Initial funding of $5,000, plus $400 to be used for the 2000 scholarship, was provided by John W. Kee.
BACKGROUND: Ernestine Sine Kee, a lifelong resident of Hambleton, WV, was born on October 4, 1916, to Ernest C. and Alice Mumaw Sine. A 1934 graduate of Parsons High School, she married W. Denzel Kee in 1935. Throughout her life, she was deeply active in community and church affairs, including serving as secretary-treasurer of the Tucker County Investment Company and as vice-president of the Hambleton United Methodist Church Women’s Society. She passed away in July 1992. Her son, John, described her as “the pillar of the family,” whose inspiration and guidance led six of their seven children to graduate from college.
William Denzel Kee, Sr. was born in Parsons on June 6, 1912, the son of James Woodley and Lillian Merle Adams Kee. A 1930 graduate of Parsons High School, he furthered his education at Perry Business School and completed courses in banking through A.I.B., the Mellon School of Banking, and the WV Bankers Association. A veteran of World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy and built a career in banking, holding multiple leadership roles at the Tucker County Bank and the Tucker County Investment Company. He was instrumental in bringing Kingsford Charcoal Company to the area and held numerous civic roles, including work with the Chamber of Commerce, Red Cross, Boy Scouts, and church. He passed away in February 1999.
The Kees were the parents of seven children: Alice Merle Kee Ring, William Denzel (Bill) Kee II, John W. Kee, James Michael (Jim) Kee, Robert Ernest (Bob) Kee, Ernestine Anne Kee Munford, and Kathy Lynn Kee McCune.
