Peggy Ann Bradnick Jackson Scholarship

On June 8th, I will turn 50 years old, many people have asked me what I want for my birthday ... short of World Peace - I truly do not wish for anything. Instead, I have decided to start a scholarship in honor of my good friend Peggy Ann Bradnick Jackson.  

Fifty-seven years ago last week, (May 11, 1966) Peggy was kidnapped by William Hollenbaugh aka "Bicycle Pete" as she got off the school bus near Shade Gap, PA. For 8 days, Hollenbaugh eluded capture in what was then the largest manhunt in US history. For several years prior Hollenbaugh had terrorized the Southern Huntingdon community without people knowing his identity. The day before his capture, Hollenbaugh shot and killed FBI Agent Terry Anderson, one of the first agents to be killed in the line of duty.

As President of the Huntingdon County Historical Society, I invited Peggy to speak at our annual fundraiser last week. We sold over 250 tickets ... It was a packed house, and we were able to raise over $20,000. Meanwhile, Peggy asked nothing in return. I've known Peggy my entire adult life, first when I was the local District Executive of the Boy Scouts, and we later worked together when I was elected to the PA General Assembly. Peggy would later become my mother's neighbor.  

Peggy's story has been told on Oprah, in several books and even an NBC movie of the week in 1991 on the 25th anniversary - but Peggy's real story is not about the kidnapping, it's about forgiveness and forgiving someone like Hollenbaugh who suffered from mental illness. Hollenbaugh spent most of his adult life incarcerated either in jail or a mental facility and then he was simply released back into the community. Having been dismissed by society he wreaked havoc on the small community surrounding Shade Gap. 

I have committed to donating $1,000 per year for the next five years to the scholarship. This year's recipient will be chosen by Peggy at the end of this week and it will be presented by her on May 23rd at Southern Huntingdon High School Annual Class Day. Both Peggy and I graduated from Southern Huntingdon. Peggy has fought for mental health reform and since May is "Mental Health Awareness" month - it's only fitting that the scholarship will go to a student who is furthering their education in a mental health field. We also included those students wishing to go into a law enforcement related field - in honor of all those in law enforcement who searched day and night for 8 long days fifty-seven years ago. I don't have to tell you that we have a mental health crisis in this country! Nor that our men and women in blue put their lives on the line every day and night.

The monies raised will be entrusted to the Southern Huntingdon County Education Foundation, to ensure that the scholarship will be sustainable for the foreseeable future. Your donation will be tax deductible.  

(Peggy Ann photo by Blair Shore - The Daily News, Huntingdon, PA)