Willard with two of his daughters, Phyllis and Betty. This organ is currently on display at the Floyd County Historical Society.
Willard Clower Scholarship Fund
Handmade Music School is proud to present the Willard Clower Scholarship Fund. This scholarship is available to all students under 18 years old.
To donate to the fund, click the button below and select the Designation “Willard Clower Fund.”
About Willard Clower
Willard was born and raised on a farm in Floyd County where he gained knowledge of farming and a deep love for music. As a young adult in the late 1920’s, he moved to New Jersey to find work. There, he met his wife, Evelyn, and found time to entertain at local gatherings and with other musicians on the local radio.
He returned to Floyd County in the early 1930’s, and he continued to play with local musicians for neighborhood gatherings. Most notable of these music groups, Willard was the organizer and banjo player in the old-time string band, the “Korn Kutters,” a name he coined himself. The Korn Kutters were incredibly popular in the area, playing many benefits and gatherings for fun rather than payment. The Korn Kutters were eventually recorded, and those recordings are archived in the Smithsonian.
Everyone that knew Willard knew his talents as a showman and entertainer; beyond playing the banjo, he was famous for Olive Oyl, his dancing doll made from a gourd. He danced the doll in rhythm to the music while her feet danced on the end of a hand saw placed across his knees.
In addition to his role as a member of the Korn Kutters, Willard served his local community in a variety of ways. In fact, Willard was named Man of the Year in 1959 by the Floyd Ruritan Club for his civic undertakings! The following are some of those endeavors:
- Owner of Clower’s Feed & Seed Store from 1944-1973
- Served on committee and was one of the original shareholders to solicit funds for the Floyd County Industries Corp., which resulted in the construction of the Floyd Garment Factory.
- Purchased one third interest in Floyd County Clinic, which helped to secure two physicians for the county.
- Assisted in organizing the Falling Branch Community Club
He was also a member of multiple Floyd County organizations, including: Floyd Lodge, Falling Branch Methodist Church, Assoc. of Retired Persons (a group that formed a choir to sing in the community of which he was a part), and the Great Oaks Country Club.
Willard’s children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren continue to perform music to this day. We would like to honor his love of music and philanthropy by helping others discover and develop their music talents to share with their families and the community of Floyd county. This scholarship fund is dedicated to youth musicians pursuing their music education with the Handmade Music School to honor the memory of Willard Clower and his lifelong passion for music.
Apply for a Scholarship
The Willard Clower fund is available to Handmade Music School students under 18 years of age. To apply for a Share the Music scholarship, visit our scholarship page and complete the scholarship form. You do not need to select a fund to apply. For those who meet the criteria, funds will be designated on a first come, first served basis.
Donate to The Willard Clower Fund
To donate to the fund, visit our donation page and change the Designation to “Willard Clower Fund.” Your support is appreciated!