The Hardy County Community Foundation is proud to announce the addition of the William H. Bean Scholarship to its list of available scholarships for the 2024-25 season.
William H. Bean was a lifelong resident of Hardy County. He graduated from Moorefield High School in 1971 and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Fairmont State University in 1975, where he was named Outstanding Political Science Major of the Year. He later received a Master’s Degree in West Virginia History from West Virginia University in 1977, followed by a Juris Doctor (JD) from WVU School of Law in 1980. While in law school, William was elected President of his law fraternity, PAD, and served as President of his law school class for both his second and third years. During his time at WVU, he helped push for major changes, including advocating for the inclusion of women as candidates for the WV Mountaineer, which was successfully achieved.
After graduating, William returned to Moorefield, WV, to join his brother, Oscar, at the Bean and Bean Law Firm, founded by their father Ralph J. Bean, Sr. in 1936. He was a member of the West Virginia State Bar for 43 years, practicing criminal and domestic law from 1980 to 2023. From 1981 to 1988, he served as the Prosecuting Attorney of Hardy County.
William was deeply committed to his community and served on a variety of boards and committees throughout the years. His leadership roles included serving on the Regent 8 Board of Directors, the Eastern West Virginia Community Action Board, and the EA Hawse Health Center Board, where he was Board President for many years. He was also on the Board of Directors for the Hardy County Historical Society. In recognition of his contributions, he received the Hardy County History Hero Award for his work with the Historical Society and the Hardy County Tour and Crafts Association. William was instrumental in establishing the Hardy County Historical Society Museum.
A passionate historian, William dedicated much of his life to preserving and sharing the county’s history. Two of his proudest accomplishments were serving as Chair of the 100-year Courthouse Celebration in 2014 and leading the Remembrance of the 1985 Flood in 2010.
William’s community service extended to his involvement with the Lions Club, where he received numerous recognitions, including Lion of the Year, President’s Appreciation Awards, and the prestigious Melvin Jones Fellow Award for Humanitarian Service. He was also recognized for perfect attendance and served as Club President, Zone 3 Chairman, and Chair of the Moorefield Independence Day Celebration for over 20 years. He also founded and chaired the Moorefield Community Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration, one of his favorite annual events.
An avid sports fan, William supported local teams as well as WVU basketball and football. Bean and Bean Law Firm sponsored various local sports teams, and William proudly presented the M.A. Bean Sports Award at Moorefield High School’s annual sports banquet and the Ralph J. Bean Sports Award at East Hardy High School.
William was a lifelong member of Duffey Memorial United Methodist Church, where he served as a Sunday School teacher and was known for his deep faith and love of the Bible.
William was enthusiastic about sharing his passion for giving back. Through his law practice, he frequently counseled clients on charitable giving, and his guidance played a crucial role in at least two clients choosing to establish shell agreements for scholarship funds within the community foundation.
In keeping with his belief in providing equal opportunities for all, the William H. Bean Scholarship honors his legacy by supporting hardworking students who are in good academic and community standing. Preference will be given to students who are the first in their families to pursue post-secondary education or are pursuing vocational, technical, or apprenticeship training.
High school seniors interested in learning more about our scholarships and how to apply can visit: https://www.ewvcf.org/grants-scholarships/