Scholarship Fund Started to Remember BC3 Professor

As Valentine's Day 2010 approaches, it is nice to tell a story of true love, honor and dedication.

Ed Long taught high school at Franklin Regional High School in Murrysville. Ed loved teaching but the high schools were getting worse with violence and drugs, so when the opportunity came to teach at BC3, Ed snatched it up.

Shirley Walker was one of the original instructors of BC3 when it opened in 1966. She had been married, divorced and had two kids. Ed was also divorced, but this is where our story begins.

The year was 1970 and BC3 was just four years old and that September something wonderful happened. Ed and Shirley met for the first time in their business office.

Ed and Shirley spent every day at the college together after that. Students used to ask them how they could do it, work together and be married. Ed never really said if he ever answered them or not, he just seemed happy.

"It was such a pleasure to work with the young students of the college," said Ed. "Especially at the college level where all the students wanted to be there and learn."

Then in 1983 tragedy struck Shirley. A doctor gave a prognosis that she had breast cancer and should retire. So in 1984 that's what both Shirley and Ed did. Every second was dedicated to each other and the two of them decided to live life to the fullest. They clogged, volunteered at their local church, took organ lessons, and traveled abroad making new friends.

"For the past few years, every Saturday night my mother and Ed would go to Eat N Park for dinner and then walk (and shop) at Kmart," said Terry Zorch Shirley's daughter. "They joked about it being their 'big' night out!"

On November 20, 2008 Shirley Long sadly passed away, but she will not be forgotten. All of her friends and family will hold her in their hearts forever.

"Shirley and I had a good 34.5 years together," said Ed. "I am thankful for what the good lord gives to us."

To help everyone remember Shirley and what she did for the Butler community Ed, Terry, John, Shirley's son, and BC3 have created a Scholarship in her name. John and Terry did not want to leave Ed out and decided to name the scholarship after both of them.

"They were always together and we felt this was the way our mother would want it to read," said Terry. "We told Ed who at first wanted it to be only for my mother. After explaining our reason, he agreed."

The Shirley Walker-Long and Ed Long scholarship began with a donation of $15,000, each winner of the scholarship will receive approximately $750. The scholarship will be handed out yearly to a student in the fields of Office Administration, Business Management, or Accounting.

"They met at BC3, made lifelong friends there, and always enjoyed working with the students; this is a fitting memorial for both of them," said Terry.

Valentine's Day 2010 will only last one day, but that does not stop the love of the world.

"The longer we were together the more we knew we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together," said Ed.