The Vaughn Foundation

Dr. Jim Vaughn was educated in Tyler and attended TJC before heading to UT Austin and UT Galveston. He was an EENT Physician for 50 years. He was married to Bonna Bess for more than 70 years. Dr. Vaughn served on TJC’s board of directors for 46 years. He passed away in 2007. Bonna Bess was also an accomplished individual, having graduated magna cum laude from Texas Women’s University with a degree in English. Bonna Bess played violin in the University’s symphony orchestra and studied under Ralph Kirshbaum at TJC for many years. She enjoyed gardening and spend many hours making her yard beautiful. Bonna passed away in 2016 at 98 years of age.

This scholarship was established in 1985 by The Vaughn Foundation, at the suggestion of Dr. Jim M. Vaughn and Bonna Bess Vaughn, to honor R.H. Barrett, E.E. Fowler and I.L. Friedman for their years of dedicated service to Tyler Junior College.