The Archdiocese of Atlanta has received a $1,050 high school scholarship fund from the parents and family of Theron Heck who was killed in a traffic accident in February 1965.

The fund, donated by Mr. and Mrs. Alton Heck, members of St. Thomas More parish, has been named in honor of the late Father William A. Maguire, S.M., who taught young Heck while he was a student at Marist. The priest, a native of Philadelphia, taught for 27 years at Marist. He died June 28, 1961 at age 68.

Archbishop Paul J. Hallinan said the fund has been donated to give a Catholic high school education in one of the three archdiocesan high schools to a boy who could not attend for financial reasons.

The archbishop said he is establishing a board to review applications which will be forwarded to the education office by pastors of the archdiocese. Members of the board will be appointed later.

The fund will provide a four year, full tuition scholarship for the boy selected by the board. He will remain anonymous.

“In order to give the fund an opportunity to grow,” Archbishop Hallinan said, “one boy will be chosen every four years initially. However, should the fund grow through further subscriptions to it, the number of boys chosen will be increased each year. It is hoped that some of our people will subscribe to this worthy fund, so generously begun by the Heck family.” The archbishop said, “This generous idea from such a splendid young man opens the way for a real tradition. May God bless Theron Heck, his family and those who continue this fund.” At the time of his death, young Heck was a student at Georgia State College. He was a well known member of St. Thomas More and had worked in the education of youth in the CCD program. He planned to serve in the Peace Corps after college.

While a student at Marist, he often expressed his admiration for Father Maguire and said he wanted to set up a high school scholarship in the priest’s honor.