James “Pete” and Carolyn Waldo, devoted educators and proud first-generation college alumni of University of the Ozarks, dedicated their lives to inspiring generations of students. In honor of their 63-year marriage and lifelong commitment to education, their children have established an endowed scholarship to support future teachers at their alma mater.
The Pete ’56 and Carolyn Johnson ’58 Waldo Endowed Scholarship has been established at U of O with a $30,000 gift by their children, Allen Waldo and Lisa Waldo Wilhelms. The scholarship will be awarded beginning the 2026 Fall Semester to juniors or seniors who are majoring in education.
The Waldos met at Ozarks as students and were married for 63 years, each spending more than 30 years working in education. Pete passed away in 2020 at the age of 85 and Carolyn died in 2021 at 85.
Wilhelms said she and her brother decided to establish a scholarship at U of O because of what the University meant to her parents.
“Mom and Dad loved going back to Clarksville to visit the campus anytime they could,” Wilhelms said. “Their careers were greatly impacted because of the University. They met and fell in love at the University, leading to 63 wonderful years of marriage. The regular contacts from the University’s administration meant the world to them. The happy memories of the friends made, the sports played, the lessons learned, were a fundamental part of their life.”
Wilhelms said she loved to hear about the impact her parents had on their former students.
“Together, they taught for more than 60 years, making an impact on numerous individuals,” she said. “We always loved it when we were out with mom and dad—as far away as Tampa, Florida—and they ran into past students from several decades earlier who told them how much they had enjoyed their teaching and class.”
Pete and Carolyn met in the early 1950s as students in the athletic department of what was then The College of the Ozarks. Carolyn, from Piggott, Ark., was a student-worker in the office and Pete, from Lamar, Ark., was an athlete lettering four years in basketball and baseball and serving as a student-manager for the football team. They were married on Aug. 19, 1956.
The first in his family to earn a college degree, Pete would go on to earn a master’s degree in education from Washington University in St. Louis while embarking on a 33-year career as a basketball coach and health and PE educator at Ferguson-Florissant School District in St. Louis. Pete, who retired in 1989, was awarded the Alumni Achievement Award by U of O in 2012.
After Carolyn’s sophomore year at Ozarks, Pete and Carolyn were married and they moved to St. Louis for Pete’s first teaching position. A talented artist, Carolyn worked for Universal Match designing matchbooks until she became a mother. Once her children were in grade school, Carolyn returned to school to finish her undergraduate degree, eventually earning a master’s degree in education from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. She was also the first in her family to attend college. She worked for the Ferguson-Florissant School District and the Branson (Mo.) School District for many years before retiring in 1997.
“Our parents were true educators at heart,” Wilhelms said. “We were constantly reminded that no one can ever take an education away from you. They never missed an opportunity to take advantage of teachable moments in the community, at church, in school, with their volunteer work as well as at home both with Allen and I as well as the grandkids. I’m sure all of us have a funny story or memory of when grandma and grandpa had to stop in the middle of something and impart their wisdom. What better way to honor their legacy than to assist in the education of future teachers.”
Allen Waldo said his parents would be proud to have a scholarship in their name at their alma mater for future educators.
“Mom and Dad always had such fond memories of their years at University of the Ozarks and knew the education they received there made such an impact on their lives,” Allen Waldo said. “Our parents were always very generous with their time, treasures and talents and we wanted something to which they could continue to give, even after their passing.”
For information on establishing an endowed scholarship at U of O in memory or honor of a loved one, please contact Brian Henderson in the Office of Advancement at bhenderson@ozarks.edu or at 479-979-1304.
Topics: Giving