Author Homer Hickam creates scholarship

Author Homer Hickam Jr. is creating a scholarship at Marshall University to help the children and grandchildren of coal miners attend college.

The Marshall University Foundation said Monday that the scholarship also is for the children and grandchildren of mine rescue team members.

The Homer Hickam Sr.-Red Helmet Scholarship is named for Hickam's father and for his latest novel, "Red Helmet."

Hickam's father, who died in 1989, was a mine superintendent in McDowell County. Hickam says on his Web site that his father helped to develop some of the nation's first professionally trained mine rescue teams.

Hickam's other books include "Sky of Stone," "The Coalwood Way," and "Rocket Boys," which inspired the film "October Sky."

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On the Net:

Homer Hickam: http://www.homerhickam.com/

Marshall University Foundation: http://www.marshalluniversityfoundation.com/