The Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation announced the creation of the Charley Pride Fellowship Program, offering an internship to college juniors and seniors. The announcement was made today, on what would have been Charley Pride's 87th birthday.
Before rising to country music stardom, Charley Pride was a professional pitcher, eventually developing a relationship with the Texas Rangers that would last for more than 50 years. Last weekend, the Rangers honored him by naming a field at the Surprise training complex after him.
The Charley Pride Fellowship Program will hire, train, and support five Fellows for a 10-week internship each year, rotating through three front office departments with the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation. Fellows will select their department rotation based on their interests, according to a press release.
Plans to establish the fellowship program were being finalized when the "Kiss an Angel Good Morning" singer passed away in December.
On hand to make today's announcement were not only officials from the Texas Rangers, but also Charley Pride's wife, Rozene, and longtime friends and fellow country music stars Garth Brooks, Larry Gatlin, and Neal McCoy.
Applications for the fellowship are being accepted now through April 23rd. Finalists will be notified on May 3rd, with the fellowship starting on May 31st and ending on August 6th.