As first-generation college students, the Fergusons believed in education. They made scholarships their legacy.
Larry and Emma Ferguson were a study of opposites.
Larry: a gregarious extrovert who loved the spotlight. The "coolest" 82-year-old you ever met, according to family, a fan of Kid Rock, and a bright if waggish spirit. He enjoyed golf in retirement but quickly abandoned it when the country club wouldn't allow him to wear jeans. He bought a motorcycle instead.
Emma: reserved and unassuming, not one to follow fads or fashion trends. She had a cool, calm demeanor and never got rattled — a suitable temperament to her career teaching elementary school children.
But one thing they had in common: their belief in education. While neither of their parents had the opportunity to attend college, they recognized the value of education and instilled its importance in Larry and Emma.
The two met while attending Tennessee Tech University. Larry graduated first with a degree in industrial technology. He got a job out of state and, finding it intolerable to be away from Emma, quit so he could return and marry her. His next job was with DuPont, which led to a successful 30-year career as a safety engineer. The job took him and Emma to 12 different cities, including a stay in Greenville, where Emma finished her degree in education. She taught at schools in each city they lived in.
"Larry and Emma Ferguson were just two regular people who came from humble beginnings who were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to attend college and earn their degrees. This of course opened many doors and was the springboard to a successful future," said Mikell Thaxton, the Fergusons' nephew and the executor of their estate.
Knowing the power of a college degree, the Fergusons set out to ensure other students had the same opportunities. They created the Larry and Emma Thaxton Ferguson Access Scholarship Endowment to be awarded to students with a demonstrated financial need, who worked hard to earn acceptance into East Carolina, but are often overlooked for scholarships because they may not have been at the top of their class or had the highest standardized test scores.
"While Emma was very studious, Larry's wasn't necessarily the best student," Thaxton said. "But Larry also knew he would have never been hired at DuPont without earning his college degree."
The Ferguson Access Scholarship is open to students studying any curriculum at ECU, but preference is given to students studying education. In honor of their legacy, the College of Education will name a study room in the Speight building after Larry and Emma.
The Fergusons retired to St. Augustine, Florida in 1996 and later moved to Charleston, South Carolina to be closer to family. Emma died in March 2019 and Larry followed in November 2020. Thaxton said he hopes their scholarship at ECU inspires future students, especially future teachers.
"Given the size of their gift, one might assume the Fergusons accumulated great wealth. But honestly, they were just two hardworking people who decided early on they wanted to make a real, meaningful impact on young people's lives by providing a college education, and they were intentional about doing it," he said. "They knew they were blessed and set out to pay it forward."
