The Greater Jefferson County Foundation has announced a new scholarship in honor of the late Richard Kurka, a Fairfield native, Korean War veteran, and longtime local business owner, according to a social media post from the Foundation.
The Richard Kurka Memorial Scholarship will be available beginning in 2027 and will be disbursed as two $3,000 scholarships for current-year Fairfield High School graduates. The scholarships are open awards with an emphasis on community service, with special consideration given to applicants whose family has military service.
Kurka was born in Fairfield in 1931 and graduated from FHS in 1949. He attended the Elgin Watchmakers College in Elgin, Illinois, before serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. After his discharge, he returned to Fairfield and operated Kurka Jewelers, which was located where The Home Store stands today. He later traveled to Germany to attend a school on clock repair and production.
Kurka was deeply involved in the Fairfield community throughout his life. He was a member of the Fairfield Lions Club, Fairfield Elks Lodge #1192, the Fairfield VFW, and the American Legion, as well as the downtown coffee club. He was also a charter member of the Knights of Columbus as a parishioner of St. Mary Catholic Church.
For more information, visit www.greaterjeffersoncounty.org.
