Burton R. and W. Jean Crocker Memorial Scholarship

Burton Raymond Crocker was born in 1925 in Franklin County, Illinois and attended Goode Barren Township High School before serving in the Marine Corps during World War II. He also served his country during the Korean War. Mr. Crocker attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale before he married W. Jean Crocker in 1949.

Mr. Crocker was a successful businessman for over 40 years. In 1948, he started his business career in Sesser as an independent insurance agent and realtor. He later purchased Crocker Insurance Agency from his father. He was instrumental in starting two local financial institutions, Rend Lake Bank and American Savings and Loan, serving on the board of directors of both entities.

Mrs. Crocker was born in 1927 in Union County, Illinois. After graduating Dongola High School, she was a civil service worker in Chicago. Later, she graduated from the E. E. Baker School of Beauty Culture and then worked as a beautician. In later years, she worked with her husband as the office manager of Crocker Insurance and Real Estate Agency. Mrs. Crocker was always civic minded.

Mr. and Mrs. Crocker placed an importance on education during their lifetimes and Southern Illinois University has always played a major role in the lives of the Crocker family. Mr. Crocker’s parents attended SIU, as well as his two brothers and a sister. Three of the Crocker’s four children and seven of their eleven grandchildren also attended SIU. For these reasons their family is honoring them by establishing this scholarship.

• Scholarship for a graduate of Sesser-Valier High School.