A successful lawyer in the US, Morris Gibby was a millionaire at 41

Maerdy Junior School in Rhondda and Ogmore Vale Primary in Bridgend will get more than �500,000 each.

Morris Gibby and his family emigrated to the US in the 1920s. He died in 1999 aged 77 and left 30% of his estate to the two schools with family links.

Ogmore Vale head Paul Booth said: "This extremely generous gift will make a huge difference for our pupils".

Maerdy learnt in November 2005 it had been left money by Mr Gibby, but it was not known how much the school would receive.

The schools have been given $600,000 (about �317,000) each from the sale of Mr Gibby's stocks and shares.

Despite his success in America, Morris Gibby never forgot his Welsh roots Head teacher Paul Booth

They will also benefit from the sale of his properties in the US, thought to be worth more than $3m.

The final sum bequeathed is likely to be at least �1.13m, or about �560,000 each.

His cousin Peter Gibby, of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, said: "Morris said he wanted to leave something to his old school.

"He spoke about maybe a bench with a plaque, later he told me he was going to leave a lot more. I'm sure the schools will be very, very pleased."

The miner's son attended Maerdy Junior School in the mid 1920s. His mother Anne worked in Fronwen primary until 1915, which was one of the predecessor schools to Ogmore Vale.

Maerdy pupils will be able to enjoy new activities with the money

After he and his family emigrated to the US, Mr Gibby went to university and then became a prosecuting attorney in Ohio. He was a millionaire by the age of 41 and retired at 46.

Ogmore Vale's Mr Booth said: "We are considering various ways the money could be used, such as using the annual interest to promote educational, cultural and sporting activities.

"Despite his success in America, Morris Gibby never forgot his Welsh roots."

Maerdy head teacher Peter Blake said the money would provide new experiences.

"If we want to take the children to London to see songs from the shows we can do it, if we want to take them to Paris to see the Louvre museum, we can do it.

"If we want to go to Hadrian's Wall, or to Llangrannog to learn Welsh, we can do that as well."