Frank and Gloria Walsh Nursing Scholarship
This scholarship was funded in 2007 by Frank and Gloria Walsh to support students majoring in nursing at NJC.
Frank was born on March 25, 1921 in Mexico City, Mexico to Frank and Evelyn (Morrison) Walsh. He grew up in Pachuca, Mexico, where his father was employed as general superintendent at the Santa Gertrudis silver mine. He received his education, grades first through eighth, at the “one room school house” located inside the mine compound. He went to high school at the New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, New Mexico.
In 1944, after graduating with honors from Oklahoma University with a petroleum engineering degree, Frank enlisted in the army. He served proudly as a Second Lieutenant with the Army Corp of Engineers during World War II. After the war, he went to work for Humble Oil Co (Exxon) in Houston, Texas. It was there that he met the love of his life, Gloria Gibson. Frank and Gloria were married July 15, 1950 at her parents’ home in Kerrville, Texas. Their two sons Bill and David were born in Houston.
In 1955, Frank moved his family to Sterling. There he spent 54 years working in the oil and gas industry. He was joined by his sons in the early eighties. Walsh Production, Inc became one of the larger oil producers in the State (12+ years on the top 10 list). Some of Frank’s most cherished memories were of his many friends, colleagues, employees, and competitors with whom he shared a passion for the oil business.
Golf was Frank’s pastime of choice. He remained competitive through his last years; “shooting his age” on a number of occasions. Beyond love for family, business, and golf, Frank was truly a philanthropist extraordinaire. He was that rare individual who actually made a difference in the lives of so many in Northeast Colorado. The list of projects, organizations, and causes that Frank and Gloria have so generously supported over the years is extensive, to say the least but perhaps most notably their donation in 2008 which enabled the establishment of the David Walsh Cancer Center. Named for their son David, who passed away from cancer in 1998. From its inception, the center has focused on bringing the community high quality cancer care close to home.