Background-History.
Dealing with today's challenges requires problem-solvers, entrepreneurs who bring new and innovative ideas to the table and are willing to take risks to improve the world at large. The Clouse-Elrod Foundation, Inc. emerged from a pursuit to inspire and support the next generation of creative, innovative, and entrepreneurial individuals who can think outside of structured environments and beyond current boundaries to develop a maverick-like innovative spirit.
Established in 2011, the Foundation--(501(c)(3)--is driven by progressive ideas, bold actions, and strong values. The Foundation is based on the principles of freedom and self-determination, and on a passion for developing a productive and innovative life. Building on the shoulders of several pioneering, trailblazing families, including the Clouse, the Elrod, the Gentry, and the Mayfield families, related by marriage and/or bloodline, these families developed a self-sustaining performance-based lifestyle–Maverick-Like Spirit --through farming, ranching, building, manufacturing, engineering, and computerization, living through several iterations of changes in society from the Civil War, WWI, great depression, WWII, Korean War, etc. to current Artificial intelligence.
Dedication.
This Foundation is dedicated to these families and their principles of self-determination, sustainability, love of nature, and passion for living a productive life… symbolizing the spirit of pioneering and trailblazing---developing a Maverick-Like Spirit.
Furthermore, the Foundation is especially dedicated to Robert and Virgie Elrod Clouse, my (Wil Clouse) mother and father, and toHoS Go my grandparents, Owen and Flossie Elrod, who inspired me to be performance-based, curious, inventive, and entrepreneurial, with a Maverick-Like Spirit.
Values.
Going back in time, at least one member of these families served in the Civil War, and other members followed by serving in World War II, the Korean War, the Cold War, and in peacetime. Fifteen or more grandchildren from these combined families have served in the military, including the Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, and Air Force.
These families faced tumultuous times, including the Civil War, the Great Depression, World War I, World War II, the Korean conflict, and the Vietnam War, and raised a generation of grandchildren and great-grandchildren who helped move this country forward in agriculture, manufacturing, engineering, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Spirit of these families and their impact.
These families were the salt of the Earth. Performance-based, hard-working, neighborly-minded, God-fearing souls, who lived out their lives during many hard times, but continue the spirit of life and developed values and wisdom that came from life experiences. These values were passed on to the next generation and to grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
These families endured many hardships, beginning with the conflict of the Civil War, the hardships of cold, freezing winters and hot, dry summers without electricity, air conditioning, or indoor plumbing, but seldom did they complain. They worked from sunup to sundown on the family farms, growing vegetables and raising cattle and corn, beans, wheat, etc. Their lives were self-sustaining, and they approached life with a pioneering, trailblazing, innovative spirit that has driven the ancestors of these early families.
Following the lifestyle and values of their parents, the grandchildren and great-grandchildren served in the military as enlisted, special services, commissioned officers, and one grandson, while on special assignment with the Department of Defense, served in the role of a one-star General. Others served behind enemy lines, and one received the Purple Heart.