The Harrelson-Barger Endowed Scholarship for students majoring in social work has been established at Howard Payne University by Dann and Melba Harrelson Barger, of Brownwood.
“This scholarship will be very beneficial to our students majoring in the field of social work and we are deeply appreciative of this generous contribution,” said HPU President Dr. Bill Ellis. “Dann and Melba have been wonderful volunteers and contributors to their alma mater throughout the years.”
Scholarship awards will support students majoring in social work. If there is no qualified applicant in social work, the next preference for scholarship awards will be students majoring in education.
In 1962, Dann began a long career with the Texas Youth Commission (TYC) as a caseworker at the Mountainview School for Boys in Gatesville. From 1965-1970, he served as chief juvenile probation officer for Potter County in Amarillo, before returning to work for the TYC as a caseworker for Brownwood State Home and School for Girls and later as assistant superintendent. He then went on to serve as superintendent at the Crockett State School, Corsicana State Home and Statewide Reception Center. He ended his TYC career as the placement coordinator for the State of Texas where he was assigned in Brownwood.
Dann has a Licensed Master of Social Work certification and was named “Social Worker of the Year” for 2009 by the HPU Social Work Club. He is also a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and served many years as a counselor for the Heart of Texas Baptist Area. Locally, Dann serves as a board member of the Brownwood Community Advisory Council for TYC, Christian Women’s Job Corp, Mid-Tex Council ADA, Inc. and Mid-Texas Federal Credit Union where he has served for 35 years. He is also a 35-year member of Rotary International.
Melba is a retired educator, having taught in Odessa, Gatesville and Bangs. During her career, she also served as Dean of Students for the Brownwood State Home and School for Girls and the Brownwood Statewide Reception Center. She was also the director of on-campus program at Corsicana State Home and later a counselor for Corsicana Independent School District. The last 17 years of her 30 year career were spent at the J.B. Stephens Elementary School in Bangs. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) of Texas.
Both graduated from Howard Payne in 1958 and then earned master’s degrees from Sam Houston State University.
The couple has two sons and daughters-in-law — Harrel and wife, Kimberly, and Michael and wife, Tammy — and five grandchildren. Dann and Melba are members of First Baptist Church, Brownwood, where Dann serves as a deacon.
