Melba Hagen Hollenbeck Memorial Scholarship and Jerry Hollenbeck Honorary Scholarship

Melba Hagen and her twin sister, Marjorie, were born on April 1, 1941, to Ula and Edward Hagen.  She graduated from St. Louis High School in 1959 in the top 10% of her class.  Melba was very proud of her school and took an active part in the education of her two daughters, Christina and Tricia, attending many school functions and athletic events.  After a brave battle with leukemia,  Melba passed away on February 7, 1997.  Before her death, she and her husband, Jerry, discussed  establishing scholarships to recognized outstanding student athletes for their contribution to sports programs at St. Louis High School.  Jerry carried out her wishes with the help of Keith Wing who was the St. Louis High School Principal at that time.  This scholarship is awarded annually in Melba’s memory to an outstanding female scholar-athlete.

Jerry Hollenbeck was born on May 20, 1939, to Ruth and Hugh Hollenbeck.  He grew up on a small dairy farm in rural Breckenridge and graduated from Breckenridge High School in 1955.  An athlete himself, Jerry was active in high school sports and was a four year letterman. Jerry enlisted in the Navy in 1956 and served four years as a navy diver and demolition expert.  From 1960 to 1969, he was engaged in farming. In 1969, however, Jerry became a commercial pilot and is still active as a jet pilot today.  After his wife’s death in 1997, Jerry established two scholarships for outstanding student athletes at St. Louis High School; one in his late wife’s memory for the outstanding female and this one in his name for the outstanding male.