Paul Pezley Baseball Scholarship Fund

The Paul Pezley Baseball Scholarship Fund honors the late Paul Douglas Pezley of Marion. Born in St. Louis in 1952, he was a 1971 graduate of Marion Harding High School. He worked for the Erie Lackawana Railroad until the line left Marion, at which point, Paul followed his passion for cars into auto sales. He worked with Ted Elsey at Marion Auto Sales for 15 years.

The scholarship supports the higher education of Marion students who, like Paul, share a passion for baseball.  According to friend and noted local coach Larry Merchant, “Paul was the best baseball player I never coached.” Paul understood the value of high school athletics and loved watching his three sons play.

The Pezley Fund was created by Paul’s wife, Paddy Diehl Pezley, and sons, Daniel, Michael, and David, and their families. Scholarship awards support the education of students from Marion Harding High School or River Valley High School who were active on either of the schools’ baseball teams.  Special consideration is given to applicants who held a full or part-time job while in high school and those who are the first person in his or her immediate family to attend college.