McMahon Legacy Scholarship

The McMahon Legacy Scholarship was established in 2018 by the Comanche County Saddle & Sirloin Club. The MaMahon Foundation of Lawton, Oklahoma, provided a $40,000 matching grant to establish a scholarship program endowment. Legacy contributors are The Craig Foundation, Farm Credit of Western Oklahoma, All-America Bank and Liberty National Bank; each provided $10,000 to bring the total amount of the endowment to $80,000.  These funds were invested in an endowment with the Lawton Community Foundation. 

The purpose of this scholarship is to assist a graduating senior of the Comanche County Livestock Show in their pursuit of secondary education at an academically accredited, not-for-profit two or four-year accredited institution or in a specific program at a vocational/trade school.

McMahon Legacy Scholarship Criteria

The primary selection criteria to be considered for this scholarship are:

1. The recipient must have intentions to attend a two or four-year accredited college, immediately upon high school graduation or a vocational/trade-specific school and have a program identified. (award will not be made until notified that enrollment is finalized).

2. Recipient must have exhibited a minimum of 2-years at the Comanche County Livestock Show during their ninth through twelfth grade. Preference will be given to those with longer-term involvement in livestock showing and at the Comanche County Livestock Show specifically.

3. Recipient must have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5

4. Must attend a school that is in Comanche County and be actively involved in that 4-H or FFA chapter.

Special considerations will be considered and addressed by the Comanche County Saddle & Sirloin Club Board for uncontrollable hardships and/or military or other types of employment that causes family transfers.

Comanche County Saddle and Sirloin Club Heritage Scholarship

In 1998, the Comanche Saddle & Sirloin Club Board and it’s members created a scholarship to recognize and reward deserving young people involved in the Annual Comanche County Spring Livestock Show program by assisting them with the next steps beyond the show ring. 

The scholarship program began with a single scholarship in memory of Guy Shull, who passed in 1997. Guy Shull was a well-known Hereford breeder and auctioneer and longtime supporter of youth livestock programs in Comanche County as well as across the state of Oklahoma and the U.S.

In 2013, the decision was made to expand the list of honorees and added Wesley Silk and Marvin Bickett. Wesley Silk, who passed in 2007, was a Lawton school administrator, well-known Angus breeder and longtime Saddle & Sirloin Club member. Marvin Bickett, was a Lawton FFA advisor and another instrumental leader in the Saddle & Sirloin Club.  

Since then, the Comanche County Saddle & Sirloin Club Heritage Scholarship Program has been awarding scholarships in honor of Guy Shull, Wesley Silk and Marvin Bickett. The vision is to continue this scholarship program and add to the list of honorees.

Heritage Scholarship Criteria

The primary selection criteria to be considered for this scholarship are:

• The recipient must have intentions to attend a two or four-year accredited college, immediately upon high school graduation (award will not be made until notified by school of enrollment).

• Recipient must exhibit an animal at the current Comanche County Livestock Show to be considered.

• Priority is given to students who have exhibited animals at previous Comanche County Livestock shows.

Mary Sue and Wesley Silk Memorial Scholarship

Established and administered by the Mary Sue and Wesley Silk family to honor these two individuals for their leadership in agriculture in our community. Wesley Silk was instrumental in preserving the Lawton School Farm to protect the opportunity for children to a conveniently located facility to learn about agriculture. Still today, the sign remains at the corner of Sheridan and Lee to recognize his efforts. Mr. Silk had a 40year teaching career combined with a passion for Angus cattle. He along with his wife, owned Wesmar Angus Farm. Mr. Silk was inducted into the Angus Hall of Fame in 1997. He was a member of the American Angus Association. In 1997, he received the historic Angus Herd Award, denoting 50 years as a continuous producer of registered Angus cattle. He was a charter member of the Comanche County Saddle and Sirloin Club, and was instrumental in starting the Comanche County Saddle and Sirloin Bonus Sale in 1959. This scholarship is designed to recognize kids who are involved in Dairy, Beef, Show Cattle, small grain or forage production. Applicants for this scholarship must be from Comanche County.