There was some wrangling among the engineering department,

There was some wrangling among the engineering department, the administration and the board with the result being that the tuition free status of people in the five year masters program continued via a special grant through the five years.

Meanwhile, I was chugglng along on my fifth year degree work while working about 25 hours a week at the NASA Manned Spacecraft Center. The part time work supported my beautiful young wife and extraordinary daughter.

So here we were barely getting by and I think someone in the engineering department noticed. I think they went to the financial aid department and put me in for some financial help.

This resulted in my being named a Proctor and Gamble Scholar with an $800 stipend! This was amazing financial relief at this point in our married life. I never looked into whom I should be grateful - a real mark of my immaturity and selfishness at that time. Aside from the much needed and much appreciated cash,there was an additional side benefit. The P&G Scholarship liaison official visited Houston in the fall and spring semesters and took the Scholars and their spouses (if applicable) out for a great meal at a top notch restaurant.