Background
The Eleanor & James Latta Jr. Scholarship Fund was established through donations from A. Duie Pyle, Inc. and from private donors for the benefit of children of employees of A. Duie Pyle. The fund is administered through the Chester County Community Foundation, and award winners are selected by the fund's scholarship committee, none of whom work at A. Duie Pyle.
Eleanor Pyle was Duie Pyle's daughter, and in 1942 she married James Latta, Jr. At the time, Mr. Latta was serving his country in the U.S. Army. Shortly after the wedding, Mr. Latta shipped out and served in the China-Burma-India Theater, and did not return home until April of 1945. Beginning in 1946, Jim Latta worked alongside Duie Pyle as the company continued to grow.
As Mr. Pyle's health declined in the early 1960's, Mr. Latta assumed the decision making for the future of the company. Mr. Latta led Pyle through rapid expansion, diversification, and a Teamster strike, and Pyle's resulting decertification. Throughout his leadership, Eleanor, his wife of 52 years, was by his side and involved in the company's activities. As Mr. Latta's health problems began to compound during 1985, much of the responsibility for the day to day decision making was transferred to Mr. and Mrs. Latta's three sons: Jimmy, Duie, and Peter. Mr. Latta remained a guiding force for his sons until his passing on June 16, 1995. Mrs. Latta continued as the matriarch of the company for many more years, until her passing on September 29, 2011.
The company experienced tremendous growth and solidified its identity as an outstanding place to work under the leadership of Eleanor and James Latta, Jr. They were always big proponents of education, and this scholarship fund is in memory of their tremendous contribution, and for the benefit of the employees of A. Duie Pyle, who they both so dearly respected and valued.
In 2013, shortly before his retirement, Pyle's President, Steve O'Kane, started the Eleanor & James Latta Jr. Scholarship Fund for the benefit of children of employees of A. Duie Pyle, in memory of Eleanor & James Latta Jr.
Eligibility
- Must be the son or daughter, or stepson or stepdaughter, of a current Pyle employee.
- As of April 15th of the application year, the Pyle employee must have worked at Pyle either:
- full-time for 2+ years, or
- part-time for 3+ years.
- Must plan to attend, on a full-time basis:
- an accredited, undergraduate, four-year program (minimum of 12 credit hours per semester);
- an accredited community college, two-year program (minimum of 12 credit hours per semester); or
- an approved trade or technical school.
- Must demonstrate academic success and active participation in community and/or school service.
- Must submit a complete application (including the transcript, essay and recommendation letters as required by the application.)
Scholarships are for one academic year, but recipients may re-apply. Re-applicants must meet the same criteria and demonstrate continued academic success.
April 15 is the deadline for a complete Application.
Scholarship Distribution
- The number of scholarships per year varies. In recent years, scholarships have been awarded to 20+ students per year.
- Scholarships amounts vary and can be up to $6,000 in 2025.
- Recipients may reapply using the same guidelines for funding the following year, but funding is not guaranteed.
- Scholarship monies will be paid directly to the post-secondary institution.
- Recipients will be required to submit official transcripts to the Chester County Community Foundation before the scholarship will be disbursed.
All Scholarship Awards and Declination Letters are typically sent by May 15th.