Scholarship Criteria:
Ira was born June 12, 1950, in Portsmouth, Ohio. He was one of ten children of the late Roy A. and Gladys Tatman Swearingen. Ira was a graduate of Portsmouth West High School and attended the Ohio State University and Columbus State Community College.
He was a decorated Vietnam Veteran. He served his country in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Enterprise as a hospital corpsman. For his dedicated service, Ira was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Services Medal and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. At the time of his death, Ira worked as an orthopedic consultant for Sulzer Medical, Inc. in Austin, Texas and was a certified Physician's Assistant.
Ira had strong ties to his family, especially his 19 nieces and nephews, 31 great-nieces and nephews and two great-great nephews. It is because of his love of children that the family members decided to establish this memorial scholarship fund in his name.
From the outpouring of contributions and donations to the fund, it is evident that Swearingen was loved and touched many lives across the country. His friends at Marli Medical Supplies, Inc. located in New York, will miss him dearly. The Southern Surgical Consultants, of Jacksonville, Florida think of him often. “We had the great fortune of working with Ira over the past ten years. Our company’s success is due in large part to Ira’s efforts and dedication. He was always there to help, no matter the task or hour of the day. He was truly a great friend. We will miss him dearly.”