Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, August 11, 1994 TAG: 9408220048
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY WALKER SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
``If I get injured or killed, so be it,'' he says. ``I just want to be there for others.''
On July 22, Dye became the first recipient of a full-year scholarship from the Barry Pendrey Scholarship fund. Barry Lee Pendrey was a Roanoke deputy sheriff who was killed in the line of duty. In addition to working as a deputy, Pendrey volunteered with the Roanoke Life Saving and First Aid Crew, the Williamson Road Life Saving and First Aid Crew and the Cave Spring Life Saving Crew.
On Feb. 26, 1985, while working as a paramedic in the city jail, Pendrey was beaten to death with an oxygen tank by a mentally disturbed inmate. He was 30. City Council passed a resolution lamenting his death and praising him as ``an outstanding public servant whose service was exemplified by personal characteristics of humanitarianism, conscientiousness, dedication and loyalty.''
In Pendrey's memory, members of the sheriff's department set up a scholarship. Every year since 1986, they have held a golf tournament and other fund-raising activities.
The money has been deposited with Virginia Western Community College's Educational Foundation to endow a scholarship for students in the administration of justice program. This year's fund-raiser brought the endowment to about $20,000, enough to begin awarding annual scholarships from the interest.
The $1,000 scholarship is reserved for second-year administration of justice students such as Dye.
A graduate of William Byrd High School, Dye spent part of his childhood on a Navajo reservation in Arizona, where his parents were Southern Baptist missionaries. He returned to the Roanoke Valley in 1987 and began night school about a year and a half ago, he said.
Now 23, Dye lives with his parents in Vinton while studying at Virginia Western, where he has a 3.55 grade-point average.
At an award ceremony in the city courthouse attended by sheriff's department staff members, college representatives and members of Pendrey's family, Dye spoke about his decision to study law enforcement.
``When I started in the criminal justice program, I wanted to be a game warden; but as time went on, I started to realize there were so many other things I could do that would help others,'' he said. ``I just want to follow in Mr. Pendrey's footsteps and so many others like him.''
After another year of study, Dye hopes to graduate with an associate degree in administration of justice. From there, he said, he may go to a four-year college or enlist in the Marines and eventually seek a job in law enforcement.
``I've been told it's a very dangerous field, but I'm at the conclusion that's what I want to do,'' he said. ``I want to be there when someone needs help.''
Dye said he wouldn't forget the Barry Pendrey Scholarship.
``I'll certainly contribute to the fund when I get out of school and get a job.''
by CNB