The
Lt. William Randall Crecelius Scholarship was
initially endowed by Lt. Crecelius’s father, Henry Crecelius in 1983.
This was done to honor his son’s service to his community and country,
and as a way of memorializing his life.
This scholarship is intended to assist Oakland City University students
with the means to continue their education.
As Lt. Crecelius continually strived to help
others during his life, so does he also continue to help others in death. For all who
knew him, he was an honorable man and one to whom the recipient of this
scholarship can be extremely proud.
Lt.
Crecelius (Randy to his family and friends) was
killed in a plane crash in Australia during WWII. He had been serving in New Guinea and
Australia since April, 1943 and was the pilot on a flight December 19, 1943
when his plane exploded killing him and 30 other people on board the
aircraft. It was a C-47 military cargo
plane, the type used to transport the majority of troops and cargo during the
war. Randy was initially buried in
Australia, but was eventually returned to Indiana and buried at Warnock
Cemetery in Princeton. His military
awards include the Distinguished Flying Cross with two Oak Leaf Clusters and
the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters.
Randy
graduated from Francisco High School in 1936.
He was born on November 21, 1918 and enlisted in the Army in Evansville,
IN just before his 22nd birthday.
Randy’s family (at that time) included brothers James (Jim) and Robert
(Bob), a sister Doris and parents, Maude and Henry.
Those
who contribute to this scholarship hope each award recipient continues Randy’s
legacy with their service to others – as he would have surely done had he
survived.