SYCAMORE – The Jeffrey A. Trail Memorial Fund has been established through the DeKalb County Community Foundation.

The scholarship provides an initial monetary award every year to a recent high school graduate from DeKalb County who is in the first year at one of the five U.S. service academies and who has been chosen from among that year’s applicants. The selected student will receive an additional stipend each year he or she continues at the academy. Completion of the four-year undergraduate program would result in total assistance amounting to $5,000.

Jeffrey A. Trail was the son of Stanley M. and the late B. Ann Trail. He was born in DeKalb on Feb. 25, 1969. He spent his formative years in DeKalb and graduated from DeKalb High School in 1987.

After his freshman year of high school, Trail attended a summer program for high school students at the department of aviation, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. At the end of the program, he was able to fly solo in a single-engine airplane. When he returned to DeKalb, he was hired at the DeKalb airport, which helped him complete the ground school and flight requirements needed for his pilot’s license.

While in high school, Trail participated in forensics, was a member of the National Honor Society and of the science and math club. He took several undergraduate mathematics courses at Northern Illinois University and had many downhill skiing adventures.

During Trail’s senior year at DHS, he applied for admission to the U.S. Naval Academy. His application was initially denied because of a suspected asthmatic condition. He appealed the decision and continued knocking on the door until they let him in. Trail entered the Academy on July 1, 1987, having been formally appointed by Sen. Paul Simon. In his last year, he was the Fourth Battalion Adjutant. In June 1991, Trail graduated and was commissioned ensign in the U.S. Navy.

Trail continued his professional military education at the Surface Warfare Officers School Pacific in San Diego. Upon completion, he was assigned to the USS Gridley, CG 21, which was deployed to the Persian Gulf during the First Gulf War. While on the Gridley, he qualified and was designated a surface warfare officer.

He was promoted to lieutenant, junior grade in May 1993.

After his experience on the Gridley, Trail joined Assault Craft Unit One at the Naval Amphibious Base in Coronado, California. He became a department head there and was promoted to lieutenant. In June 1995, after serving his commitment, he moved on from active duty with the Navy.

Trail was a manager at a propane gas distribution company in Minneapolis when he was slain April 27, 1997. He was 28.

Those close to Trail have described him as hard-working and family-oriented. They say he had a virtue about him; it was a genuineness that could not be bought. Jeff often was referred to as one of the good guys. He was a great cook and enjoyed karaoke. He also had a serious side and was extremely responsible and conservative. He is loved and missed by many.

Donations to any fund at the Community Foundation, including the Jeffrey A. Trail Memorial Fund, can be made online at dekalbccf.org/donate, or by mail to: DeKalb County Community Foundation, 475 DeKalb Ave., Sycamore, IL 60178.

For information on funds, contact Executive Director Dan Templin at 815-748-5383 or dan@dekalbccf.org.