FAIRMONT, WV (LOOTPRESS) — A Marion County family with deep ties to Fairmont State University is honoring the legacy of a beloved educator, coach, and community mentor through a new scholarship aimed at supporting local students.
The Martin “Mike” Arcure Memorial Impact Scholarship, established by Arcure’s wife Beverly and their four children—Diana Williams, Lisa Keeter, Michelle Thomas, and Doug Arcure—will provide $1,000 annually to a full-time undergraduate student who graduated from a Marion County high school and demonstrates financial need.
The scholarship is a tribute to Mike Arcure’s lifelong dedication to education and the Fairmont State community. Arcure, who passed away after a long battle with dementia, spent much of his life guiding students both in and out of the classroom. A proud graduate of Fairmont State, he returned to the university in 1968 to teach and launch its first intramural sports program. He also served as an assistant basketball coach and became known for mentoring students, checking on their academic progress, and making good on promises to their families that they would graduate.
“He loved basketball, sure, but it was never just about the game,” said his son Doug. “He was always making sure his players went to class. Some didn’t have a father figure, and he stepped in to fill that role.”
Mike Arcure’s commitment to service went beyond campus. Known throughout Marion County, he was active in local events, scholarship banquets, and often seen in Fairmont State gear striking up conversations with strangers.
“He never met a stranger,” said his daughter Lisa. “He had a photographic memory and could recall the smallest details about games from decades ago. People would call him to settle sports debates.”
Fairmont State Foundation Director of Development Marissa Mauro praised the Arcure family’s generosity: “Mike Arcure’s name is synonymous with service, mentorship, and loyalty to Fairmont State. This scholarship will have an immediate impact on Marion County students and ensure his legacy continues.”
For the Arcure family, the decision to fund the scholarship was simple.
“Marion County is home,” said Doug. “It’s where our dad built his life, where we grew up, and where so many kids deserve a chance to succeed.”
The scholarship reflects Mike Arcure’s belief that education was a student’s most important job.
“There was never a question of whether we’d go to college,” said Lisa. “It was just a matter of where and what we’d study. Our dad believed in the power of education, and now his legacy will help others find that same path.”
For more information about establishing a scholarship or impact fund at Fairmont State University, contact the Fairmont State Foundation at 304-534-8786 or [email protected].
