The James Lanier Byrd III Endowed Scholarship at Southeast Missouri State University was established in 2021 in memory of the lifelong Charleston resident. This fall, Mr. Byrd’s estate made another $500,000 contribution to the scholarship, bringing the principal amount of the endowment to $1.1 million.
The scholarship is available to graduates of Charleston or East Prairie High Schools with a minimum 2.5 GPA and includes tuition, fees, books, as well as on-campus room and board. Both traditional high school graduates and students transferring to Southeast from a community college are eligible. The scholarship is renewable for up to four years.
James L. Byrd III (Jim) was born on June 22, 1930, at Cairo, Illinois, son of the late James Lanier Byrd Jr. and Lucile Frisby Byrd. He was a life-long resident of Charleston, Missouri, until his death on Friday, October 9, 2020.
Jim attended Charleston Public Schools through his second year of High School and then completed his high school education at the Shattuck Military Academy in Faribault, Minnesota. After high school, he attended Central Methodist University at Fayette, Missouri, where he was a member of the band and graduated with a degree in business administration.
Jim was a landowner and the owner of South Missouri Broadcasting Company (KCHR), which he founded in 1954 and operated until his retirement. He served with the Missouri National Guard for 16 years and was a member of the United Methodist Church of Charleston. He was known for his generosity.
The additional gift to the scholarship endowment was made with the goal of helping as many students as possible from Mississippi County pursue their education.
Applying to SEMO
High school seniors are encouraged to apply by December 1. Prospective students are encouraged to visit campus. SEMO will host Show Me Day, the University’s premier on-campus event, on March 23.