The Montgomerys have a long association with Bellarmine. Ray’s uncle, the Rev. Henry B. Schuhmann, headed the first development office and provided early leadership in the School of Business. Ray and Barbara began their friendships with Msgr. Horrigan, Msgr. Treece, Fr. John Loftus and Fr. Hilary Gottbrath at that time.
“In April of 1963 the Bellarmine Women’s Council had been organized to serve as a medium of contact between the college and the community,” writes Wade Hall in the Bellarmine history book, High Upon a Hill.
Barbara Montgomery is part of that history. From 1973-75 she served as president of the Bellarmine Women’s Council. She is one of the “Fearsome Fivesome” – the affectionate appellation given to the first five Council presidents.
Barbara was also a member of the Bellarmine University Board of Trustees from 1979-87, and Ray has served on the Board of Overseers. The Montgomerys have additionally supported Bellarmine University through their longtime membership in the President’s Society, for which Ray was a previous chairman.
The Barbara and Ray Montgomery Endowed Scholarship will be awarded to a junior, a senior or a graduate student based both on merit and on financial need. And, because it is an endowed scholarship, it will continue forever.
“Bellarmine University is near and dear to our hearts,” Barbara said. “It’s a special place that is important to our community. Ray and I have talked about creating a scholarship for some time. Now is that time.”