Fountain memorial scholarship to benefit Crestview students

CRESTVIEW — The family of the late Dr. Robert G. Fountain, DDS, recently announced the creation of the Dr. Robert Graham Fountain Memorial Scholarship at Crestview High School.

The new scholarship will begin this May and will provide $1,000 each year to a deserving senior who plans to go into the dental or medical field.

“We are honored to be able to fund this scholarship on behalf of our family in Dad’s honor, and to help out a deserving student each year graduating from Dad’s alma mater, Crestview High School,” said his son, Okaloosa County Commissioner Graham Fountain said.

Graham Fountain will chair the Fountain Family Scholarships Board.

Applicants must be attending an accredited university or college majoring in the dental/medical/pharmaceutical/nursing fields of study, with the intent to become a dentist, medical doctor, pharmacist, licensed physician’s assistant, or licensed registered nurse. Each student applying for consideration must have a minimum weighted grade point average of 3.75 on a 4.0 scale, or school equivalent.

Students must also be active in school and home life as evidence by involvement in extracurricular activities such as sports, music, student leadership, ROTC, and participation in community and/or faith-based projects. They must also be able to present ideas and information well through written and/or verbal communications.

A current transcript must be provided with application.

CHS seniors meeting the requirements may get application paperwork from Stephanie Sanders in the Guidance Office. The deadline to apply is April 5, 2020.

Dr. Fountain, affectionately known to many as “Dr. Bob,” was a lifelong resident of north Okaloosa County.

He attended Crestview High School from 1952 to 1955 and was a top football star under Coach AC Koeniger.

He accepted a full football scholarship from Florida State University, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and biology in 1959. He got his doctor of dental surgery degree in 1963 from Emory University’s School of Dentistry in Atlanta, Georgia.

While in Atlanta, Dr. Bob met and married the love of his life, Magaline “Madge” Cline. They returned to Crestview, where they established his dental practice and raised three children.

Fountain was well known as perfectionist in his work. One of his more famous patients, the late Congressman Bob Sikes, gave him the title “Dr. Painless,” a nickname that stuck throughout his lifetime.

Dr. Bob believed wholeheartedly in giving back to his community. In addition to financial donations, he was president of the CHS Quarterback Club, a member of several FSU clubs, and a founding board member of the Bobby Bowden Football Scholarship at FSU. He volunteered his time as an FSU talent scout, and enjoyed helping young people get into college.

He was governor’s appointee to the State of Florida Welfare Board; Okaloosa-Walton Dental Society president; and a lifetime deacon at First Presbyterian Church in Crestview.

As a businessman, he owned and operated Dr. R G Fountain, DDS in Crestview, Gulf Coast Fishing and Diving Service in Destin, the Dog Island Yacht Club, and Tarpon Dock Marina & Hotel in Bay County.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Fountain memorial scholarship to benefit Crestview students