The Harry P. Cain Memorial Scholarship was established by friends and family of Harry Cain. A $1,000
scholarship will be awarded to a currently enrolled undergraduate student who plans to enter the field of
public administration or public service and who demonstrates the following:
Deep commitment to service in the community, specifically to individuals in need and human rights.
Proficiency in public speaking.
Courage to publicly defend personal principles even if opposed by the majority.
Application can be found here:
http://www.pugetsound.edu/files/resources/cain.pdf
Harry Cain was born in January 1906 in Nashville, Tennessee, and moved to Tacoma with his parents while
very young. His interest in public administration came from his early education. Harry worked for Franklin
Roosevelt’s election and become president of the local Young Democrats. He was elected Mayor of Tacoma in 1940, to serve a two-year unexpired term. In 1942 he won reelection by the largest majority ever given a mayoralty candidate in the city’s history. Because of WWII, he took a leave of absence and became a major in the U.S. Army. In 1945, with the war over, Harry won a seat in the U.S. Senate. After losing his Senate seat in 1952, Harry taught political science at Yale University and then moved to Florida to become commissioner for Dade County until losing his bid for reelection in 1976 at the age of 70. Harry continued to believe in and work for civil liberties until his death in 1979.
A major underpinning of his public service was his continual interest in individuals and their rights. He believed in causes, unpopular or not. Harry always said what he felt, whether or not it was in his political best interest. If he believed in something, he supported it without regard to the potential consequences. Because of this interest in helping the “underdog”, this scholarship is awarded to students who have a strong interest in the rights of individuals and a willingness to defend tough positions or causes.
A major underpinning of his public service was his continual interest in individuals and their rights. He believed in causes, unpopular or not. Harry always said what he felt, whether or not it was in his political best interest. If he believed in something, he supported it without regard to the potential consequences. Because of this interest in helping the “underdog”, this scholarship is awarded to students who have a strong interest in the rights of individuals and a willingness to defend tough positions or causes.
