Daughters fund Cornell scholarship to honor father

MOUNT VERNON — The daughters of a Cornell College alumnus who was a leader at work, in his community and to his family have committed $400,000 to endow a scholarship fund for students who show an interest in volunteerism and working toward the common good.

The Paul M. Clayton Endowed Scholarship honors a 1935 graduate in mathematics and physics who entered the automotive industry after college, eventually becoming assistant chief engineer at Ford Motor Co. More than 50 years ago he was already concerned about the environmental impact of automobiles, and he designed a fuel-efficient, “thrifty-flow” carburetor that delivered just enough gasoline to the engine.

He was active in his church and community, serving as a member of the school board. He died in 1966 and received Cornell’s Alumni Achievement Award posthumously at that spring’s commencement.

“He was not just an inventor scientist. He was also a poet and an artist, and he loved reading. Education was so important to my dad,” says Suzette Clayton, a retired teacher in Indiana.

“Every summer vacation we were in the car and traveling. He had a way of instilling in us a curiosity in life and in the world. The importance of caring for the planet and for other people, and showing respect for all individuals – I know I got that from my father,” she said.

Paul Clayton spent five years working on the family farm in Colorado between high school and college.

“He went to college to learn to fix radios better, and he became a real believer in a liberal arts education. Cornell was a very positive time in his life. This seemed like a good way to honor him, to help students who might follow in his footsteps,” says Pat Clayton of Seattle, an artist and former physician who worked with HIV patients at a community clinic.

“The Clayton Scholarship will make a Cornell education possible for talented students with a passion to learn and the motivation to contribute greatly to the campus and, upon graduation, to society at large, just as Paul Clayton did,” said Cornell President Les Garner. “We are grateful for his family’s continued support.”

The scholarship fund will provide annual awards of approximately $6,000 each to four students who show financial need.

The Claytons’ gift is part of Cornell College’s comprehensive campaign “Extraordinary Opportunities: The Campaign for Cornell College” which concludes in December 2009. The campaign seeks to enhance the Cornell experience by increasing the college’s endowment, upgrading its facilities, and enhancing the academic program.

For more information about the campaign or making a gift, please visit www.cornellcollege.edu/campaign