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Endowed welding scholarship established at South Plains College

Worley Welding Works Inc. has established the first fully endowed $10,000 welding technology scholarship at South Plains College, Levelland, Texas.

The scholarship was set up in memory of the late O.M. “Rube” Morris, a longtime Levelland welder who served as an advisory board member for the program and as a mentor to countless young welders during a 36-year career.

“The SPC welding technology program is continuing to grow. As their facilities expand, they will be able to work with even more welding students each semester. The creation of the Morris Memorial Scholarship, named in honor of a man who had a tremendous influence on the welding industry, is just one step in the processes of creating more scholarship dollars for this great program,” said Russell Hall, SPC director of development.

Pete Stracener, welding technology associate professor, said, “I am very appreciative of Mike Worley. He has been instrumental in supporting our program and served on our advisory committee for a number of years.” Two Worley employees, Larry Kirk and Bill Brown, currently are on SPC’s welding technology advisory board.

Worley opened his own oilfield welding business in 1974 with encouragement and training from Murrell’s Welding and Morris, who had been a longtime field foreman. He and his firm have donated a large photograph of Morris, which includes highlights of Morris’ work history, for display in SPC’s Welding Technology Building.

Morris worked at the shipyards in Beaumont from 1936 to 1946, helping to build ships during World War II; was employed by Murrell’s Welding in Levelland from 1946 to 1976; served several years, beginning in 1967, on the SPC advisory board for the welding program; owned and operated Rube’s Welding and Rental in Levelland from 1976 to 1982; and retired in 1982. He began welding at the age of 16 at the Pennsylvania Shipyards’ welding school.