Robert Franklin White Trust

The Robert F. White Trust Agriculture Scholarship was established in 2003 through the trust of Robert Franklin White. Robert was born to Watson & Flora Pigman Franklin, who both died when he was very young. Land in Kentucky that was owned by his parents supported his sisters and him as they were growing up. He was adopted by Roland W. and Frances Mather White when he was 15. He attended Culver Military Academy, and Cornell University in Ithaca, NY excelling in sports at both schools. He was awarded the Cornell Sun Trophy for finest all-round athlete in the class of 1939. He was a member of Psi Upsilon fraternity and enjoyed playing occasional pranks.
He joined the Army Air Force during World War II and enjoyed owning racehorses while he was stationed in the Virgin Islands.
While he was working for Standard Oil in St Louis, he met Mary Hinkle, who would become his wife on November 29, 1947.
He became involved in horse showing, particularly the American Saddlebred horses and encouraged his daughter and granddaughters to ride horses.
He was interested in Native American art, particularly the pottery as well as unusual breeds of cattle, having brought the Scottish Belted Galloways to Kansas after becoming fascinated with them on a trip through Vermont.