Wilton Parker honored with new endowed scholarship for Iola High School students

Daughter, son-in-law gift $250,000 to Blinn College Foundation

July 8, 2025

Wilton Earl Parker’s commitment to education is being honored with a new endowed scholarship for students from the Iola Independent School District who attend the Blinn College District.

Jeanette and John DiFilippo, Parker’s daughter and son-in-law, have gifted $250,000 to the Blinn College Foundation to establish the Wilton Earl Parker Memorial Scholarship.

“We hope this can be life-changing for a lot of students,” said Jeanette DiFilippo. “My father believed that education is important. I hope this scholarship helps others achieve their goals much like help from his father and grandfather helped my father achieve his.”

Growing up, Parker rode a horse five miles to school and back home. An excellent student, he made high marks and was allowed to skip several grades. When he was a senior, his principal approached Parker’s father and encouraged him to let his son attend college.

“In the mid-1930s, only 10-15% of people of college age went to college,” said Jeanette DiFilippo. “Going to college would be an exception, especially for someone from a rural community like Iola. It is likely that my dad was the first person from Iola High School to attend college, but his father Isaac was convinced and supported the idea. Wilton needed no convincing. He had done enough plowing to know working a farm was not how he wanted to spend the rest of his life.”

Paying for college was a challenge for Parker, Jeanette DiFilippo said. Isaac gave him $50 – about $1,200 in today’s money – to attend Sam Houston State Teachers College in 1936.

Parker worked while in school but ran out of money during his sophomore year. He asked his grandfather, Imanuel Parker, for help and Imanuel responded with another $50 gift and an offer to make land available for Wilton to farm and keep the profits. That allowed Parker to stay in school and graduate in 1940.

Parker’s first job was teaching in Rosenberg. He later served in the U.S. Army during World War II, teaching recruits to read and write. After he was discharged from the Army, Parker joined an insurance company in Baltimore and returned to Texas in 1955 when that company opened an office in Houston. He worked for that company before retiring at age 70 in 1990.

Parker died in 2018 at age 98.

“This endowed scholarship will be important for many of our students,” said Iola ISD Superintendent Jeff Dyer, who attended the Blinn College-Bryan Campus. “Students might have money to start college, but they might not have the money to finish. Usually, it’s about that second year. This will allow them to go a little bit farther so maybe they can finish.”

Brian Fowler, principal at Iola High School, said the new endowed scholarship provided by the DiFilippos is a great opportunity.

“We’re very excited and we’re very blessed to have them come over here and donate this to our kids,” Fowler said. “Blinn is a great school. We have a lot of programs working with them. This is a good opportunity for our students to go and take dual credit classes and take advantage of a lot of the things that Blinn and our school district are trying to do.”

Michael Schaefer, Chair of the Blinn Foundation Board of Directors, said the generosity shown by the DiFilippos demonstrates their desire to help Blinn-bound students.

“This amazing gift will put the career goals of so many students within reach,” said Schaefer. “The fact that it honors a man like Wilton Parker, who believed so strongly in education, makes it even more special. We truly thank the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. DiFilippo.”

The Foundation, which oversees more than 300 endowed scholarships, is a tax-exempt organization that provides financial support for programs and activities that enhance the quality of education for Blinn students and expand educational opportunities.

The Foundation also seeks to heighten community awareness of the mission and accomplishments of the College and to promote excellence in education.

Endowed scholarships are available to incoming and returning students from a wide range of backgrounds, majors, and experiences. Students are considered based on high academic achievement, participation in student activities, and community involvement.

Current high school and college students can apply for Blinn scholarships by completing the application at www.blinn.edu/scholarships. Prior to applying for scholarships, students must complete their application for admission to Blinn College at www.applytexas.org.