Ed Sandhop Endowed Scholarship for Veterans

Edwin G. “Ed” Sandhop, Jr. was born in Trinity, Texas, on December 6, 1923. It was in Trinity where Ed met Genevieve Westfall who became his high school sweetheart and the love of his life. Ed and Genevieve were married on Armistice Day, November 11, 1942. As soon as he turned 18 in December 1942, being the devoted American that he was, Ed signed up to serve in the United States military and entered the U. S. Army Air Corps in 1943 as a member of the ground crew for military aircraft. He became a member of the 1st American Volunteer Group (A VP), a distinguished World War II unit known as "The Flying Tigers. " He received the Air Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, American and China, Burma, and India Theater medals. He was honorably discharged in December 1945 as a staff sergeant. When Ed returned from his tour of duty in the military in 1945, he immediately enrolled at Sam Houston State Teachers College, completing his BBA degree in 1948. During his senior year at Sam Houston, Ed accepted a job with Gibbs Brothers & Company where he was employed from 1947 until his retirement in 2004. Ed believed as strongly about serving his community as he did his country. He was an active and concerned civic leader, considered by many as a visionary beyond his time, always contemplating the future, his wisdom and judgment serving many accomplishments throughout his life. His leadership through the years included president and board member at Huntsville Memorial Hospital; member of the SHSU President’s Circle; member of the Board of Trustees of the SHSU Development Foundation; member of the Board of Directors and Director of the Tourist Division at the Huntsville-Walker County Chamber of Commerce; Councilman for the City of Huntsville; and member of the City of Huntsville Planning Commission. Ed was a 1990 recipient of the Sam Houston State University Distinguished Alumni Award, the highest honor the association and Sam Houston State University can bestow upon alumni. He was also inducted into the College of Business Hall of Honor in 2007. Ed generously shared his time and ability, always helping with a kindness and respect unique to his persona. He was a strong man, often standing quietly behind the scenes steadfastly doing good things in selfless service to others. Ed and Genevieve celebrated their marriage of 67 years in November 2009. Ed passed away peacefully at home on July 27, 2010, after a brief battle with cancer. Genevieve completed her BA and MA in English from Sam Houston in 1956 and 1960, respectively. She continues to reside in Huntsville, Texas after retiring from Sam Houston State University in 1994, where she taught English for 37 years.