The Moore Family’s Legacy of Education
Jun 4, 2026A $25,000 gift grows into $1 million of free RCC tuition
Across Rockingham County, countless lives will be touched by the Moore family’s enduring generosity – a commitment that began 25 years ago when Marilyn Moore first established a Rockingham Community College scholarship in memory of her husband, Walter.
What began as a $25,000 gift is now a $1 million Walter H. and Marilyn Moore Endowed Promise Scholarship for graduating high school students in Rockingham County to attend Rockingham Community College for free.
Now, as the family’s charitable remainder trust reaches its 10-year distribution point, brothers Chip, Bill and Bob Moore have chosen to honor their parents by expanding that original act of generosity into something far larger than originally envisioned.
The scholarship is open to any Rockingham County resident who meets the minimum GPA requirement of 2.0, a change the brothers feel will open doors for students who may believe college is out of reach. As Bill explained, many students with lower high-school GPAs assume college isn’t an option – but this scholarship gives them a real chance.
This new iteration marks an expansion of the original scholarship, which required students to be Reidsville residents with a higher GPA. Students may enroll at RCC full- or part-time and pursue an associate degree, diploma, certificate, or short-term workforce credential.
A promise scholarship is a last-dollar award, which means students will first receive federal or state financial aid as well as RCC Foundation scholarships, and then the promise scholarship kicks in to cover remaining costs except for books and course-specific fees. A promise scholarship is open to students graduating from high school and enrolling at RCC to start fall classes just a few months later.
The gift isn’t just about access—it’s about persistence. Scholarship recipients will be expected to keep their grades up once enrolled, ensuring they remain focused and supported throughout their RCC journey.
“We hope the opportunities education provided our parents will now provide opportunities for RCC students,” Bill said.
As part of the trust’s distribution, an additional $1 million will be directed to the Free Clinic of Rockingham County to provide dental care — another tribute to their father’s lifelong profession.
Only after understanding the impact of the gift itself does the full story of why it exists come into focus.
The Donors
When Walter and Marilyn Moore began their lives together in Reidsville, long before their sons were born, they could hardly have imagined the enduring legacy their family would leave for Rockingham County students.
They met as students in Reidsville City Schools and began dating in high school, where Walter played in three straight football championships and Marilyn was a cheerleader and valedictorian of her class. Both would go on to become educators themselves. Between college and dental school, Walter taught biology at Wentworth Elementary, while Marilyn taught French at Reidsville Senior High. Education wasn’t simply a value in their household – it was a way of life and a pathway to opportunity.
While Walter attended UNC-Chapel Hill and the UNC-Chapel Hill Dental School, Marilyn, a graduate of the Woman’s College (now UNC-Greensboro), worked as a secretary to a dean in the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine.
After dental school, Walter joined the Air Force so he could support his young family while gaining experience before opening his practice. The Moores raised their family in Reidsville and dedicated their lives to giving back to the community that shaped them.
Walter and Marilyn were charter members of Woodmont United Methodist Church.
Walter served as president of the Reidsville Jaycees, Reidsville United Way, and Reidsville Rotary, where he was a Paul Harris Fellow. He was chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Rockingham County Library, and served on the Board of Directors of the Annie Penn Hospital Foundation, UNC-Chapel Hill Education Foundation, and Mutual Savings and Loan, and on the Advisory Board of BB&T. He was a member of the Board of Visitors of the Lineberger Cancer Research Center.
Marilyn was awarded the UNC-G Distinguished Alumni Award and was a member of the Excellence Foundation. She was president of the Woodmont UMC Women of the Church, the Reidsville Jr. Service League, and the Down To Earth Garden Club. She served on the board of the Lineberger Cancer Foundation, and was a member of the N.C. Historical Book Club.
Over the next decade, Marilyn Moore continued to steward their charitable remainder trust, and after her passing in 2016, Chip and Bill took on the responsibility of managing the fund. With careful attention, the trust grew significantly – far beyond what their parents could have imagined.
Following Marilyn’s passing in 2016, Chip and Bill Moore continued stewarding the trust. With thoughtful management, it grew far beyond what their parents could have imagined — culminating in today’s transformational commitment.
While the Moore brothers are modest about their role, they are determined that every eligible student knows help is available. In their parents, they saw humility, hard work, and a quiet commitment to doing things “the way you’re supposed to do them.” They remember their father’s sayings, especially one Chip believes every young person should hear: “Spend less than you earn.”
From those simple, grounding values, the Moore family crafted a legacy that will shape Rockingham County for generations – a scholarship born from grief, built on gratitude, and expanded through love and stewardship will now open doors for countless students – just as Walter and Marilyn Moore would have wanted.
To apply for the scholarship, contact RCC’s Financial Aid team at 336-342-4261 ext. 2203 or [email protected].
If you’re interested in establishing a scholarship at Rockingham Community College, contact RCC Foundation Executive Director Paul Farrar at 336-342-4261 ext. 2201 or [email protected].
~Story by Gerri Hunt, RCC Director of Public Information
