HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — The friends you make in college are strong, but any medical school alumnus will tell you, the friends made during the late-night study sessions and clinical rotations are some of the strongest.

Dr. R. Mark Hatfield and his wife, Monica, have honored the memory of one of those friends, Dr. John G. Boswell, with an endowed scholarship to the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine. The scholarship supports entering first-year medical students from Mercer, Mingo, Lincoln, Logan or McDowell counties in West Virginia. 

The Dr. John G. Boswell Memorial Scholarship is in memory of Dr. John G. Boswell, Class of 1982, affectionately known to his classmates as “Zebulon T. Bearclaw.” Originally from Norco, California, Boswell later moved with his family to Princeton, West Virginia. He briefly attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, before completing his pre-medical requirements at West Virginia University and Concord College (now University). He was a member of the second graduating class from the Marshall School of Medicine, where he was introduced to his wife, Teresa Clay Boswell, by her sister, Dr. Denise E. Clay, a member of the Class of 1983.

Following the completion of his residency in pathology at the Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Boswell dedicated his career to the practice of pathology. Boswell tragically died in January 2023. He is survived by his wife and three children.

“Monica and I wanted to honor the memory of a fellow alum, Dr. John ‘Zebulon T. Bearclaw’ Boswell, who made a lasting impact on us and so many medical students at the Marshall School of Medicine in our era,” said Dr. Mark Hatfield, president of the Class of 1983. “Through this memorial scholarship, his name and legacy will continue to inspire and support future students for years to come.

“We have always believed in supporting the School of Medicine, and it is our hope that this scholarship encourages others to do the same. By investing in future physicians, we ensure that Dr. Boswell’s spirit of dedication, compassion and excellence continues to shape the next generation of medical professionals.”

Teresa Boswell said her husband was the type of person to help others in secret, never wanting accolades, but she believes he would be pleased by the Hatfield’s kind gift because it helps fund future medical doctors.  

“He loved to teach all the residents that came through his workplaces and tried to instill in them a sense of dedication to the patients as well as pride in providing the best possible care,” Teresa Boswell said. “John actually liked doing Continuing Medical Education courses because he never lost the desire to excel.”

For more information on scholarships or to make a gift to the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, please contact Linda Holmes at 304-691-1711 or holmes@marshall.edu.

Date Posted: Monday, June 1, 2026