Darrell Royal Memorial Scholarship

Before becoming a Texas sports legend, before calling himself a Longhorn (or Husky or Eskimo), Darrell Royal was an All-American football player at the University of Oklahoma. Quarterbacking the Sooners to an undefeated season in 1948, Royal helped pave the way to the Oklahoma program's remarkable success in the decades to come.

To commemorate Royal's achievements as a Sooner, The OU Club of Houston has established the Darrell Royal Memorial Scholarship to be presented annually to a Houston-area high school student bound for the University of Oklahoma. Presently, the scholarship is worth $2,000 per year, consisting of a $1,000 cash award from the OU Club of Houston, and a matching $1,000 fee waiver from the University of Oklahoma. It is renewable for three additional years provided the recipient maintains at least a 3.0 grade point average and remains enrolled as a full-time student.

"Darrell Royal's accomplishments as the long-time head football coach at the Univeristy of Texas have firmly established him as one of the greats of all time," said Marilyn Turner, past board president of The OU Club of Houston. "But he learned how to win at Oklahoma. In the finest sense of the expression, Darrell Royal was both 'Sooner born and Sooner bred'."

Royal played at Oklahoma under coach Bud Wilkinson. The Hollis, OK, native still holds school records for the longest punt return and most career interceptions. Roal died November 7, 2012, from cariovascular complications relted to Alzheimer's disease. Before taking the University of Texas head coaching job, Royal was head coach of the Canadian Football League's Edmonton Eskimos and at the University of Washington and Mississippi State.

Robert and Jerry Simmer Scholarship

In 2001, the OU Club of Houston established a second scholarship, the Robert and Jerry Simmer scholarship, named in memory of Robert W. Simmer, a graduate of the OU Law School and longtime supporter of the University. Proceeds from an annual golf tournament bearing Mr. Simmer’s name as well as other fundraising events are used to fund the scholarship awarded through the OU Club of Houston. The Simmer scholarship is also worth $2,000 per year, consisting of a $1,000 cash award from the OU Club of Houston and a matching fee waiver from the University. It is also renewable for three additional years provided the recipient maintains at least a 3.0 grade point average and remains enrolled as a full-time student.

These two scholarships are awarded each year to students who best exemplify the qualities of academic achievement, leadership and service during their high school years. While need is considered in awarding the scholarships, it is only one factor among many used to select the recipients. Individuals who receive the awards are expected to be ambassadors from the Houston area, who exhibit the same qualities at OU that made them successful in high school.