Shockley Family
The Shockley Family has a long history with FSU, dating to Frostburg State Normal School and Frostburg State Teachers College. Three generations of Shockleys have attended Frostburg, including Margaret Jane Screen Shockley (Class of 1911), Dr. Robert Joseph (“Joe”) Shockley (Class of 1942), Thelma Louise (“Tommy”) Manahan Shockley (Class of 1944), and Karen Margaret Fowler Shockley (Class of 1974).
The scholarship was established in 1995 by Dr. Robert Shockley in honor of his late wife, Thelma Shockley, as the Thelma Shockley Endowed Scholarship. Given her life-long love of the theater, the scholarship was for a student in the performing arts. After Dr. Shockley’s passing in 2014, their children, Dorothy Avondstondt, Jay Shockley, and James Shockley, renamed it as the Dr. Robert Joseph and Thelma M. Shockley Endowed Scholarship. It was subsequently renamed the Shockley Family Endowed Scholarship.
During their time at Frostburg studying Education, the Shockleys were involved in performing arts on campus. Joe was active in the orchestra and dance contests. Tommy was active in the glee club and drama club. Karen was active in costume creation for student theater productions.
The Spring-2014 edition of FSU magazine Profile had the following article on Robert Shockley:
From all accounts, DR. ROBERT “JOE” SHOCKLEY ’42 was a big man on campus. Flipping through the yearbooks of that era, one can sense his presence in the photos – a young man with a big smile, ready to change the world. When Joe passed away on Jan. 13, 2014, at age 92, he left the world in a better place. In his career as an educator and later assistant superintendent for Prince George’s County Schools, Joe touched many lives. He and his first wife, Thelma ’44 (affectionately known as “Tommy”), knew the importance of giving back to their alma mater and created a scholarship to help FSU students in the performing arts.… After Tommy’s death, Joe and his second wife, Patria, continued to support the Shockley legacy and often returned to campus for Golden Anniversary celebrations and friendly visits. Former FSU President Dr. Catherine Gira established a friendship with Joe – one that would last until his death. “Joe was wise beyond measure,” recalls Gira. “In recent years, Joe and I corresponded via email almost daily. … I miss those emails. I miss those smiles, that soft voice, the twinkle in those eyes. And I shall ever be grateful that this remarkable alumnus of Frostburg State became a close and cherished friend for well over 20 years.”
During her professional career, Tommy was an elementary school teacher, assistant principal, and elementary school principal until her retirement in Prince George’s County.
Margaret Shockley taught school in Allegany County. She was a teacher at Westernport School before moving to Cumberland where she became a substitute teacher in local schools.
Karen Shockley was an elementary school teacher in Prince George’s County and Florida.