Chamber creates scholarships in Boyles, Eastham’s names

At their annual dinner on April 27^th, the Board of Directors of the Front Royal-Warren County Chamber of Commerce announced the creation of two scholarships by the Chamber Board of Directors to honor two men who have given much of their time and service to the betterment of Front Royal and Warren County and to promote and train the next generation of leaders in our community.

A scholarship will be given at Warren County High School in the name of the late Roy Boyles and a corresponding Skyline High School scholarship will be given in the name of former Front Royal mayor and current EDA board member Jim Eastham.  The scholarships will be named the Roy K. Boyles and James M. Eastham Chamber Leadership Institute Scholarships.

Roy Boyles and Jim Eastham, long-time stalwarts of the Front Royal-Warren County Chamber of Commerce, are now recognized for their efforts with scholarships in their names. Courtesy Photos

Jim Eastham

“These two scholarships are established to recognize Roy and Jim’s respective contributions to the Front Royal and Warren County community, to the Chamber Board, and in developing and promoting the Chamber Leadership Institute Scholarship,” a chamber press release noted, adding, “The naming of the leadership award scholarship is especially an honor for Jim because of his long-standing relationship with the Chamber and the Chamber Leadership program. Having been a participant in the 2005 class and later as an instructor, he has seen the benefits the leadership program has brought to the business community of Front Royal and Warren County.”

The establishment of these scholarships is designed to ensure the opportunity for the future leaders of Front Royal, through its school system, to interact with the current leaders of our community and lay the foundation for future programs to move the Chamber and its membership forward.

High school seniors will apply and go through a screening process with a committee consisting of past Chamber Board Chairmen making the final decisions in awarding the scholarships. Scholarships will be awarded based on the applicant’s interest in continuing education, participation and leadership in school and community activities, and a reputation for good citizenship and moral character.

In addition to completing the scholarship application, applicants will be required to write a 300-word essay describing their career plans, provide a list of school, Community Service activities and work experience, and two letters of recommendation from non-relatives.

The chosen students will also be asked to participate in the Chamber’s Leadership Front Royal-Warren County Program in order to receive their award.

The scholarships will be established through the Community Foundation of the Northern Shenandoah Valley.

Records of service

Before he passed away last year after a bout with cancer, Boyles distinguished himself through 35 years of involvement in educational, civic, and charitable organizations.  He formed the first formal mentoring program with Warren County Middle School, served as President of the E. Wilson Morrison PTA, and chaired the site-based committees at two elementary schools.  He served on the Warren County School Board for over a decade, and was Chairman of the Board for five years.  After holding several leadership positions in the Virginia School Board Association he was named President in November 2012.

His service to the community included membership and officer positions in the Front Royal Rotary Club, the Kiwanis Club, the Front Royal/Warren County Chamber of Commerce serving as Chairman twice, Marlow Heights Baptist Church, the Warren Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees, the United Way of Front Royal/Warren County, and the Salvation Army of Front Royal/Warren County.

For his service and leadership, he received the following awards: Outstanding Young Man of Front Royal/Warren County by the Front Royal Jaycees, the Citizen of the Year Award by the Front Royal/Warren County Chamber of Commerce (twice awarded), and the Distinguished Citizen Award by the Shenandoah Area Council, Boy Scouts of America.

Jim Eastham was born and raised in Front Royal.  He attended Warren County schools, graduated from Woodberry Forest School, Washington and Lee University and the Virginia School of Bank Management at the University of Virginia.

He served as Chairman of Warren Memorial Hospital, the Warren Memorial Hospital Foundation, the Front Royal Planning Commission, and the Front Royal Chamber of Commerce.  He also served two terms as Mayor of the Town of Front Royal.

Eastham currently serves on the Economic Development Authority Board of Directors, the Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the Warren County Educational Endowment, and is Immediate Past President of the Rotary Club of Front Royal.

He retired after 30-plus years in banking and financial management; and as noted in the chamber release, “Jim is married to Denise Forbes Eastham, proud mother of Laura, Jamie and grandmother to two-year-old George.”

Currently dealing with his own health issues, Eastham sent his regrets at missing the Shenandoah Valley Golf Club-hosted event announcing the honors.  We at Royal Examiner send our best wishes to Jim and his family, and look forward to seeing him soon at a coming EDA meeting or chamber event.

(From information in a Chamber release)