Calvin & Betty Garley Memorial Scholarship

Scholarship Criteria: At the time of the award, eligible student recipients shall be enrolled as full-time students at the University of Northwestern. Students must be entering their junior or senior year and have a minimum GPA of 3.0. Recipients shall represent and demonstrate the high ideals of the Mission, Vision, and Values of the University of Northwestern.

Scholarship Story:

The Calvin & Betty Garley Memorial Scholarship was established in 2007 through the generosity and foresight of Calvin and Betty Garley. Through their estate plans, they directed that scholarships be awarded annually to juniors and seniors at the University of Northwestern. Their desire was to invest in future generations of students while leaving a legacy shaped by faith, perseverance, hard work, and Christian character.

Calvin Garley was a member of what has often been called America’s Greatest Generation. During World War II, he served in the United States Army on the European Front. In March 1945, after his unit captured a German pillbox, they came under intense attack the following day. Several American soldiers were killed, and Cal suffered shrapnel wounds to his leg and a devastating injury that cost him the sight in his left eye at just 18 years of age. Captured by German forces, he was forced to march approximately ten miles to a prison camp, where a German doctor performed surgery on his injuries. He remained a prisoner of war until his release at the end of the war two months later. For his service and sacrifice, Cal received the Purple Heart.

Those who knew Cal, however, were often far more impressed by his humility than by his military accomplishments. Friends described him as a true American hero. Following the war, he married his high school sweetheart, Betty, and together they built a marriage that lasted more than five decades. Cal went on to become a successful self-taught architect and contractor of apartment buildings. He also enjoyed singing tenor in barbershop quartets and spent many years raising horses on the family ranch near Stillwater. Whether through his work, hobbies, or family life, he invested deeply in the people around him.

Betty Garley was known for her sweet spirit, enduring faith, and deep love for others. Her family recalled that an unwavering trust in God sustained her throughout life, including after two brain aneurysms and decades of memory challenges resulting from those medical trials. Even through those difficulties, her sweet nature remained unchanged, and she seldom complained. Those who knew Betty remember her kindness, gentleness, and the genuine love she extended to family, friends, and caregivers alike.

Together, Cal and Betty raised three children, enjoyed the blessings of grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and maintained a strong connection to the University of Northwestern. Their family’s ties to the University extend across multiple generations, including Tom and Karen Garley, who attended the University, met there, and later married. One of the Garleys’ granddaughters also attended Northwestern, as well as one of their daughters-in-law.

Faith was the foundation of the Garleys’ lives. Cal’s obituary stated, “Cal’s first love, which inspired all others, was his love for and dedication to the Lord Jesus.” Those who attended his funeral heard testimonies about the values he passed on to his family, including the importance of marriage, work, music, and faithfully preparing for eternity. The service itself was remembered as a powerful celebration of God’s faithfulness and grace.

The Garleys were also generous supporters of University of Northwestern. Their philanthropy included a significant gift in the early 2000s toward Northwestern’s swimming pool project inside the dorm building connected to the Robertson Student Center. They also developed lasting relationships with former UNW presidents Dr. Bill Berntsen and Dr. Don Ericksen. Their support reflected a deep belief in Christian higher education and its ability to prepare students for lives of service and leadership.

Through this scholarship, Calvin and Betty Garley’s legacy continues to encourage students to pursue excellence while remaining grounded in faith. Their lives demonstrate that courage, humility, perseverance, generosity, and devotion to Christ can leave an impact that extends far beyond a single lifetime.