Fund Number: 153
Year Founded: 2001
Type of Fund: Non-Permanent Fund, Scholarship
Purpose: The purpose of the Dan Starnes Memorial Scholarship Fund is to provide two $500 scholarships each year, when adequate resources are available in the fund, for Morgan County residents to study law enforcement.
History: Daniel Starnes was a Morgan County Sheriff Deputy and Warrant Officer with the Morgan County Sheriff’s Department who loved his community and his family dearly, and served them both well. He was born Aug. 31, 1954 to J.C. Starnes and Lora Mae (Hacker) Graves in Evansville.
On Dec. 19, 1975, he married Janice (Lewis) Starnes and the couple later had two sons, Dustin and Ryan, who now serve as Indiana State Troopers.
Sgt. Starnes worked as a member of the Morgan County Sheriff’s Department from 1995 to 2001. He was honored to serve Morgan County in many capacities. As an officer, he also worked security for Martinsville High School, Bradford Woods, the Morgan County Fairgrounds, Paragon Speedway, and other areas around they county. He also seved as Head Advisor of the Morgan County Explorer Program for the Sheriff Department Cadet Program and worked with the D.A.R.E. Program. He was a volunteer fireman and a first responder for Gregg Township for 18 years and a member of the Indiana Sheriffs’ Associations. He was also active at Mt. Olive United Methodist Church and enjoyed hunting, fishing, and spending time with his family.
Sgt. Starnes was shot while on duty on Flag Day, June 14, 2001. His son, Ryan, was riding along with him as part of his college internship program, and was also shot and slightly injured. Sgt. Starnes died on July 10, 2001 from his injuries.
His family was determined to make sure that his memory would not be forgotten, so in 2001 they established the Sergeant Dan Starnes Memorial Scholarship at the Community Foundation of Morgan County to provide scholarships for Morgan County residents to study law enforcement.
Interested individuals may donate to this fund online, or by contacting the Community Foundation of Morgan County and noting that the gift should be placed in the Sergeant Dan Starnes Memorial Scholarship fund.