The Licking County Retired Teachers Association established the Letha P. Headlee Licking County Retired Teachers Association Scholarship in 2001 to honor Letha P. Headlee, who dedicated her life to educating and inspiring others.

Letha was born in 1904 in Mt. Morris, Pennsylvania. Her family soon relocated to Pataskala, where she attended Pataskala Elementary School and Pataskala High School. She typically walked two miles to school, but on special occasions her parents would let her drive — in a horse and buggy. She graduated from high school in 1924. She then enrolled at The Ohio State University, where she graduated with a degree in education in 1927.

She immediately received a teaching position at the Alward School, a one-room school that housed grades one through eight with just one teacher. Unfortunately, in the spring of 1929, Ohio began to consolidate many one-room schools, leaving Letha without a job. As a result, she headed out west to take a job teaching high school in Wyoming. Letha spent one year in Wyoming before returning to Ohio, where she took a job at Union Furnace, south of Logan.

Letha went on to teach at Franklin University for ten years. She had a passion for learning that she carried with her throughout life. Letha earned her Master of Arts degree from The Ohio State University. She taught in the business department at Newark High School for many years before finally retiring in 1971. Letha Headlee was a pioneer for women during her time. Throughout her life, she remained dedicated to inspiring a passion for learning among her students. Letha’s legacy of lifelong learning lives on through this scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to graduating seniors from any public school in Licking County who plan to major in education.