Quantcast The Battalion
College Media Network
  • ©2009 Student Media

Carlin leaves legacy, scholarship at A&M

By: Kenny Ryan

Issue date: 6/24/08 Section: News
  • Print
  • Email
"There is a scholarship committee [that determines who the scholarship goes to,]" Sumpter said. "[There is] a rep from journalism studies, a rep from local media and then there is a rep from student services. We review the applications and pick the most qualified candidates that fit the qualifications for the particular scholarship."

The 2008-2009 recipient of the scholarship is Katherine Coburn, class of 2009. Coburn graduated from Angelina College in Lufkin and has come to A&M to further her education. The Monroe-Carlin Scholarship will help Coburn pay $1,000 of her educational expenses for next year.

As news of Carlin's death spread, the man who played the role of stand-up's elderly rebel on stage is remembered not only for the jokes he told, but for the lives he helped.

Sumpter said that to his knowledge, Carlin never interacted with the University or the scholarship in the previous 10 years. Despite having never met him, Sumpter had kind words for about Carlin.

"We are of course saddened to see that he is gone, and we appreciate the fact that he was a supporter of our students in the past."

Though Carlin was known most for his material that railed at the status quo, moments of kindness shined through his 'angry old man' stage persona.

In a 1997 interview with the Associated Press, Carlin said, "One of the things I detest most in people is being unkind. To anyone, but especially to people who have less power than you, less status than you."

Words like these are not often associated with Carlin, but seem to fit into his seemingly secret identity as a nice guy. A genuine kindness that Carlin took steps to hide, rather than broadcast.

"We were really astounded and pleased," said Rogers about the creation of the Monroe-Carlin scholarships. "I don't know of anyone else that ever gave us anything without wanting everyone to know about it. Everyone else wants a bit of publicity.

"It was a very generous and thing to do and it really touched us because it was a real tribute to somebody out of his past he could have brushed off, but he didn't."

In his interview with the Associated Press, Carlin reflected about what he would want to see in an obituary about himself. Continuing his trend of being one for modesty, he wanted to be remembered simply.

"'Gee he was just here a minute ago.' That's how I want to be remembered."
< prev Page 2 of 2

Article Tools


Give us your take on the story.
Be sure to include your name, major, and class year. Submissions without this information are subject to deletion.

By submitting a comment, you agree to thebatt.com's Terms of Use.

You may also send a Mail Call to The Battalion at mailcall@thebatt.com


Be the first to comment on this story

  • NOTE: Email address will not be published

Type your comment below (html not allowed)

  I understand posting spam or other comments that are unrelated to this article will cause my comment to be flagged for deletion and possibly cause my IP address to be permanently banned from this server.

Advertisement

In Today's Print

 

Just In (AP Lead Stories)

Advertisement

  • Podcasts
  • Videos