FORKS — The Quillayute Valley Scholarship Auction was raking in the bids Sunday, said Jerry Leppell, president of the event, who predicted it could surpass last year’s total.
By early evening, the auction’s take was about $55,000 — and several large items were still left to go on the block.
The record for the auction was $72,000 in 2008. Last year, it made $61,000.
“I really hope we’ll break last year’s total,” Leppell said.
“I think people will be surprised at what the total is.”
Over the years, more than $1 million in scholarships have been distributed.
Any Forks High School graduate may receive a scholarship for higher education from the fund, including technical school, college or other job training.
Baseballs fetch hundreds
Three autographed baseballs by Nolan Ryan, Yogi Berra and Pete Rose went for about $200 each.
The baseballs were donated by Lori Norvell-Troutman of Plano, Texas. Although she has never stepped foot into Forks, she is a fan of the area and its beauty, and she wanted to help the auction.
An autographed newspaper picture of Muhammad Ali went for about $475.
Blackberry pies were going for about $100 each.
A GMC recreational-vehicle bus went for $4,500.
“I feel really good, and we’re really excited,” Leppell said.
“This just shows how all the Forks people really are.
“We come out and amaze everyone.
“That is what makes our community what it is.”
Basket donated
One of the last things planned to be auctioned was a basket donated by longtime Forks resident Murial Huggins from her personal collection.
She has donated baskets to the auction in the past.
Her donation this year is a coiled, lidded Eskimo grass basket from the Kuskokwim area near Bethel, Alaska.
Huggins bought it in October 1983 and estimates it is worth about $6,000.
Robert Rosmond, Russ Thomas, Millie Thompson, Jane Waters and several other Forks citizens began the auction in 1963 through a committee called the Quillayute Valley Scholarship Fund.
The group raised funds for scholarships for Forks High School graduates by soliciting donations.
This weekend, guest auctioneers staffed the microphones, and students worked the phones and kept the items moving.
Volunteers received incoming donated auction items, and others served as cashiers when successful bidders paid for the items they had won.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.