Swearingen Family

This scholarship has been established by John R. and Lori M. Swearingen of Sedalia, Missouri, in support of a State Fair Community College business student. “An honest heart is being the first blessing, a knowing head is the second”, Thomas Jefferson (1785). The Swearingen family believes in a solid educational foundation and therefore created this endowed scholarship to assist those who value and seek knowledge through continued education.

John’s parents, H. W. Swearingen (1937-2012) and Virginia Stafford Swearingen (1938-2008), moved to Sedalia in 1973. Mr. Swearingen worked with his father-in-law, E. M. Stafford Jr., at the J. A. Lamy Manufacturing Company and became president in 1991. He became president of Elliot Management Services co. in 1999 and worked with his sons, Stafford M. Swearingen and John R. Swearingen who continue to run the family business.

John Swearingen earned a high school diploma from Woodberry Forest School, a Bachelor of Science-Business Finance from the University of Missouri and a Masters of Business Administration from Wake Forest University. He has served the community in various leadership roles including the president of the Sedalia Economic Development Corporation and the president of the Sacred Heart School Foundation. Lori Swearingen graduated from Casady High School and earned an Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design from Stephens College. She is a board member of Camp Blue Sky, Inc., an active member of Women’s Service League, and a member of the State Fair Community College Foundation Board of Directors. John and Lori have a son, G. Reid Swearingen and a daughter, Sara L. Swearingen.