YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Farmers Trust Co. and the YSU Foundation on Wednesday announced the establishment of the William E. Maine Jr. Scholarship Fund. 

The William E. Maine Jr. Trust was established at Farmers Trust Co. in 2017 after the death of William Maine. The trustees are Donald Bolland, a lifelong friend of Maine’s; attorney Lawrence Richards, Maine’s lawyer; and Farmers Trust Co. The total assets in the trust as of January are approximately $1.5 million.

The YSU Foundation and Farmers Trust Co. have partnered to ensure that Maine’s intentions of easing the financial barriers to higher education for deserving students from the Mahoning Valley are fulfilled, a news release states.

“This partnership with the YSU Foundation will ensure a streamlined process for prospective scholarship recipients along with efficient administration and timely distribution of scholarship funds,” said Mark Wenick, chief wealth management officer at Farmers National Bank.

Maine was born in 1935 in Youngstown and graduated from Kiski Academy and Culver Military Academy. He was an engineer with the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad and then started his own auto body business, becoming known as the “Dent Man.” Maine was an avid water and snow skier and won many trophies and medals while skiing at Cypress Gardens, Vail and Aspen. He was a Mason and a member of the Youngstown Ski Club.

By partnering the Maine Trust with the YSU Foundation, the fund will have the opportunity to continue to grow through the years and be able to award more scholarships at greater values, the release states.

“The YSU Foundation greatly appreciates the efforts of Larry, Don and Mark in establishing this impactful scholarship to honor Mr. Maine’s legacy,” said Brian Nord, chief development officer of the YSU Foundation.

The scholarship will be awarded to students in the Valley, with a preference to those whose parents were Masons and/or students who exhibit a proficiency in water skiing, as Maine was a professional water skier in his youth.

“When we discussed his estate planning, William made it clear he wanted his assets to be used to provide scholarships to students of the Mahoning Valley,” Richards said.