The Dr. Clyde and Betty Barrett Scholarship has been established in memory and honor of the Peru State College graduates and long-time employees of the institution.

Recently, Betty endowed the scholarship in memory of her late husband which will be for a full-time student who is either a pre-med or music major.

Dr. Barrett was born and raised in the area and graduated from Hamburg, Iowa. After high school, he attended business college in Omaha, Nebraska, and worked as an accountant for Fairmont Foods in Omaha.

He helped his father establish Plainview Oil and Gas in Hamburg. After marrying Betty, they began selling fireworks in 1952 and continued to do this for 56 years in several locations. During this time, Clyde was an Army draftee during the Korean War where he served as a company clerk in the Fifth Army, Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, for two years.

He graduated from Peru State in 1956 and then taught high school English and Literature in Dawson, Nebraska, Pueblo, Colorado, and Mitchell, Nebraska. After completing his master’s degree, he continued his teaching career at Pittsburg, Kansas, Warrensburg, Missouri, and ultimately at Peru State College in Peru, Nebraska.

He completed his Ed.D. at the University of Arkansas in 1969. Clyde later served as Dean and Vice President of Academics at Peru State for 29 years. Barrett also served as a commissioner with the North Central Association and initiated Alpha Chi at the college.

Dr. Barrett passed away in 2021 at the age of 91.

Betty arrived in Peru by train in April of 1952 to take the entrance exams to enter the twelve program, also called the “twelve-hour wonders.” She taught country school for a year and then later at Fort Leonard Wood.

The couple returned to Peru in 1954 to finish their degrees. Betty completed hers in the summer of 1957 and was fortunate to have received the Nebraska State Teachers College Scholarship. While at Peru State, she was a member of Sigma Tau Delta and the Home Ec Club.

While Clyde taught in Pueblo, Betty served as a substitute teacher. They later returned to Peru in 1965 where Betty substituted in the campus school and at the College. She also taught in the continuing education department.

Betty also helped to host many dinners and events in the President’s House and their home while Clyde worked at the College. Betty was the first woman to serve on the City Council. They enjoyed traveling to numerous countries over the years.

The Barretts have two children – Dr. Roland Barrett (’77) of Norman, Oklahoma, and LaRhea Nichols of League City, Texas. They had been married for almost 68 years at the time of Clyde’s passing.