About
In keeping with the family tradition of commitment to community giving, Esther Garrity, widow of well-known Judge James E. Garrity, has found yet another way to keep that family tradition alive. This time it is through a memorial gift in Judge James E. Garrity’s name to the Moorhead High School Dollars for Scholars program.
Judge Garrity is warmly remembered for his public service. As the city attorney for Moorhead for 20 years followed by his long tenure on the bench as Clay County District Judge, Jim Garrity was known not only as a role model, but also as a mentor to many young people entering law. Voluntary positions such as sitting on the Salvation Army Board and serving as Commander of the Moorhead America Legion were a benefit to the community and a pleasure to Jim.
The Garrity family has an intimate connection with Moorhead High. Esther Garrity taught English at Moorhead High from 1950 to 1953 and later worked there as a substitute teacher during the seventies. The Garrity children all graduated from MHS. James Jr. graduated in 1972 and is now a Neuro-ophthalmologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Jane graduated in 1973 and is working as an RN at Innovis Hospital. John, MHS class of 1975, is employed as a Civil Engineer with MNDOT. Thomas graduated in 1978 and works as an attorney in Minneapolis. Stephen, 1982, serves as a radiologist at Meritcare in Fargo.
From the looks of their chosen professions it is obvious the Garrity family learned the lesson well that Jim and Esther taught them: A commitment to community giving is one of the most rewarding things to be found in anyone’s life.
This merit-based scholarship is awarded annually to a Moorhead High School Senior graduating in the top 5% of the class.
Judge Garrity is warmly remembered for his public service. As the city attorney for Moorhead for 20 years followed by his long tenure on the bench as Clay County District Judge, Jim Garrity was known not only as a role model, but also as a mentor to many young people entering law. Voluntary positions such as sitting on the Salvation Army Board and serving as Commander of the Moorhead America Legion were a benefit to the community and a pleasure to Jim.
The Garrity family has an intimate connection with Moorhead High. Esther Garrity taught English at Moorhead High from 1950 to 1953 and later worked there as a substitute teacher during the seventies. The Garrity children all graduated from MHS. James Jr. graduated in 1972 and is now a Neuro-ophthalmologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Jane graduated in 1973 and is working as an RN at Innovis Hospital. John, MHS class of 1975, is employed as a Civil Engineer with MNDOT. Thomas graduated in 1978 and works as an attorney in Minneapolis. Stephen, 1982, serves as a radiologist at Meritcare in Fargo.
From the looks of their chosen professions it is obvious the Garrity family learned the lesson well that Jim and Esther taught them: A commitment to community giving is one of the most rewarding things to be found in anyone’s life.
This merit-based scholarship is awarded annually to a Moorhead High School Senior graduating in the top 5% of the class.
Recipients
2005– Ingrid Anderson
2006– Stephen Zitzow
2007– Nicole Broadway
2008– Jenna Miller
2009– Margaret Worman
2010– Kirsten Hoaby
2011- Lukas Geman
2012– Elisabeth Alexander
2013– John(Sam) Benson
2014– Corrine Burrell
2015– Sarah Nelson
2016– Paige Elizabeth DiSpirito
2006– Stephen Zitzow
2007– Nicole Broadway
2008– Jenna Miller
2009– Margaret Worman
2010– Kirsten Hoaby
2011- Lukas Geman
2012– Elisabeth Alexander
2013– John(Sam) Benson
2014– Corrine Burrell
2015– Sarah Nelson
2016– Paige Elizabeth DiSpirito