To the American public, Carlin, who died Sunday at age 71, was a comic genius for more than 40 years. He was a product of the 1960s counterculture movement that railed against religion, government and education. Not even words were safe from his wrath. But for some Texas A&M students, the comedian was a source of financial support.
The Joe C. Monroe-George Carlin Scholarship was created in 1980, and has served students who wish to study journalism for 28 years.
Bob Rogers was the journalism department head in 1980 when the scholarship was created. Rogers said he remembers being surprised when he learned that the outspoken comedian had created a scholarship to benefit students of journalism.
"He did that in honor of [Joe Monroe] who was a manager of a radio station here," Rogers said. "[Monroe] had given Carlin one of his first breaks in radio in Louisiana. He died and Carlin came over and set up a benefit concert in his name, and the proceeds is what made the [Monroe-Carlin] scholarship."
Creating a scholarship is a far cry from the establishment-challenging Carlin seen on stage. Carlin established the scholarship without fanfare and away from attention.