Skylar Pierce receives David P. Beere Scholarship on his 100th birthday

Imagine living for a century, celebrating your 100th birthday, and honoring a 2018 Owego Free Academy graduate with your family scholarship, all in one day. Well, that’s what Owego native David Beere did on May 12 from his home in Portland, Oregon. 

Surrounded by his immediate family and receiving greetings from hundreds of friends and admirers, OFA alum Class of 1936 turned a century young and added another feather in his illustrious cap as a Wall of Fame member of Owego Free Academy and a Hall of Honor recipient of the International Movers Association. 

A friend of the Bassett family from childhood and an active supporter of the Charles H. Bassett Youth Foundation since 1994, which facilitates local student scholarships, Dave Beere and his family are honored each year to give a scholarship to an outstanding OFA graduating senior who has demonstrated good character, a high concern for others, an ethic of hard work, and a desire to attend a service academy, enter the military service or otherwise do public service. 

This year’s recipient is Skylar Pierce, who will be attending the Virginia Military Institute and majoring in civil engineering, participating in Air Force JROTC, running Division 1 cross country, indoor track and outdoor track, and playing tuba in the VMI regimental band. 

The David P. Beere Family Scholarship is a $ 500 educational award that recognizes the Owego history and contributions of the David P. Beere Family, his father and mother, his sisters Rae and Patti, and Dave’s long life of achievement, accomplishment and international business work in and support of the military services and international shipping.  

After leaving Owego Free Academy, David Beere attended Syracuse University where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree, the United States Navy Air Corps, and finally the Unites States Merchant Marine Academy. 

Enlisting in the United States Navy, Dave was assigned to the troop ship, General George Goethals, the first large troop ship to anchor at Omaha Beach during World War Two. 

During the war Dave also served, with distinction, as the Port Director of Dubrovnik in the former Yugoslavia on the Adriatic Sea. After an honorable discharge from the military, David Beere has risen to the highest career level possible in the field of international shipping. 

His extraordinary work ethic, high level of energy, tremendous mental capacity, and unusual commitment to his customers and business associates have demonstrated Dave Beere’s outstanding leadership in business. 

Uniformly comments from clients and friends convey that Dave possesses excellent social skills and human relations, which allow him to work well with all those he engages. 

He is a man of great character, a believer in service to country and others, and he treats all those he meets with understanding, compassion and friendliness.

Congratulations to Skylar Pierce, and especially to David Beere for reaching this remarkable milestone in an enormously productive, full, and service oriented life. All of Owego and Frog Hollow are proud of you.