A total of 155 Panorama graduates have received scholarships from Paul Little and his late wife, Eleanor.
By Rich Wicks | Panora Times, March 2026
Paul Little shows a photo of the 155 Panorama graduates who have received the scholarships.
Paul Little and his late wife, Eleanor, raised a family and grew crops during their years of farming just outside Panora. Little recalled how he and Eleanor came from families that were far from wealthy.
“My wife was from Scranton, and she grew up as one of 11 kids. She never even went to high school,” Little said. “My parents were having a tough time when I was a junior in high school, so I quit school to go to work. I did not finish high school.”
When the two met and fell in love, they began a farming journey that included plenty of ups and downs.
“We were married Jan. 1, 1950. That’s an easy date to remember. We raised two kids, a boy and a girl. My son we lost to the Vietnam War. We farmed just about a mile east of Panora. We saw hard times, the same as everybody else, but we got along pretty good,” Little said.
The Littles did well enough that, in retirement, they realized they could help others. About 15 years ago, the couple decided to do just that.
“I said, ‘There are other people not as fortunate as we are. Maybe we should do something for the community,’ and she agreed,” Little said. “So we went in and talked to my attorney, and he said we could start a high school scholarship fund. We talked it over and decided it sounded OK.
“I had bought a 100-acre farm, and we decided to sell it and put $400,000 into a scholarship fund, managed by my attorney,” Little said. “So that was 15 years ago, and each year it gives a scholarship to between about eight and 11 kids. I don’t pick out the kids; my attorney does.”
Eleanor passed away 12 years ago when the scholarship program was relatively new. Since then, it has continued, and the list of recipients has grown impressively.
“My daughter and I added them all up, and there are 155 kids who have gotten one of those scholarships,” Little said.
Looking at a photo of the 155 Panorama graduates who received the funds, Little recalled a conversation he had with Eleanor in the early years of the program. The couple wondered how much the scholarships really meant to the families of the young students.
“She said, ‘You know, if these scholarships mean something to half of the kids, then it’s worth it.’ She could not have imagined, from how she grew up, that we would be in a position to do something like this,” Little said.
Little recently moved to Spurgeon Manor in Dallas Center. Although he never graduated from the school, he chose to help Dallas Center-Grimes graduates by establishing a scholarship program for two graduates each year.
Another way the couple gave to the community is evident at the Guthrie County Fairgrounds. Those who attend the fair have likely watched events at the Little Amphitheater. Some may not realize that the name does not indicate the amphitheater’s size, but rather the generosity that made it possible.
“C.W. Thomas came and said they wanted to build a small amphitheater and wondered if I wanted to give a little money. So I asked him how much he would need, and he said it would cost about $100,000,” Little said. “I told him, ‘I will give you $50,000 for that project, and if I like it, I’ll give you the other $50,000.’”
The project met with Little’s approval, and the amphitheater now bears a sign honoring the gift from Paul and Eleanor. In many ways, a “Little” gift has been a big help to students and others in the area.
